04/04/2007

Dozens of staff at The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times newspapers face the axe following a budget cut announcement yesterday by publishers, Newsquest.

Between two and three million pounds is to be slashed, despite the papers only last year being required to shed around 80 staff, including journalists and administrators.

Following an announcement to staff yesterday, Newsquest said, in a brief statement: “In line with current and future trading prospects, we need to restructure the business to reduce operating costs. We will be consulting fully with staff and unions to minimise the impact. Staff will be invited
to submit cost saving suggestions to their line managers.”

The savings - including possible redundancies - are expected to be completed by the end of June. One possible saving might be to merge the production of The Herald and Sunday Herald into a seven-day operation. Three million pounds is 100 jobs at £30,000 each.

Unfortunately, no further comment was being made by Newsquest. Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists had no hesitation trying to contextualise the announcement.

First, only on Monday the union submitted a report seeking investment by Newsquest in various health and safety issues at the publishers, including stress caused by under-staffing. A survey conducted during January and February also found fault with the likes of the air conditioning and sanitary systems.

Second, the union believes that - contrary to anything Newsquest might be saying - advertising revenue at the papers is on the increase.

Third, that any proposed budget cuts have to be set against what it considers to be excessive returns being paid to shareholders, suggesting the papers are in considerable rude health. But that, instead of benefiting, the staff are being are being worked even harder ‘into the ground’.

Just how well the papers are performing, money-wise, is expected to be revealed in around three weeks’ time, when the company produces its financial results.

Said NUJ Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran: “I’ve never seen a workforce have so little confidence in their employer as I have at Newsquest over the last few months. And yesterday it got a whole lot worse. I had to keep reminding people they risked being sued, for breach of contract, if they simply walked out, to leave the papers in the lurch. But that was the mood in the offices.”

An union chapel meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

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