Another group of Newsquest journalists have voted to ballot for industrial action in response to an ongoing pay freeze at the publisher.
Following the news that National Union of Journalists members at Newsquest titles in the north east had started to ballot for industrial action, it was announced today by the union that members at Newsquest's Blackburn centre have also voted unanimously to ballot for action.
"Staff are angry at management's assertion that it's been a 'challenging time economically for the company' when enlightening trading figures seem to suggest otherwise," the release says.
"Newsquest North West results to December 2009 clearly show a £7.29 million pre-tax operating profit, hardly the sign of a company in dire financial straits, struggling to break even. Figures for the same period show that Gannett UK returned an operating profit of £71.7 million."
However, staff in Blackburn say they are prepared to put any potential strike plans on hold if management agree to lift the pay freeze and enter into negotiations with the chapel towards a pay rise for 2011.
Meanwhile union members at the Brighton Argus chapel are preparing for a two-day strike starting tomorrow, in response to job cuts and plans to relocate Brighton's subbing operations to Southampton.
Newsquest has not responded to requests for comment.
Following the news that National Union of Journalists members at Newsquest titles in the north east had started to ballot for industrial action, it was announced today by the union that members at Newsquest's Blackburn centre have also voted unanimously to ballot for action.
"Staff are angry at management's assertion that it's been a 'challenging time economically for the company' when enlightening trading figures seem to suggest otherwise," the release says.
"Newsquest North West results to December 2009 clearly show a £7.29 million pre-tax operating profit, hardly the sign of a company in dire financial straits, struggling to break even. Figures for the same period show that Gannett UK returned an operating profit of £71.7 million."
However, staff in Blackburn say they are prepared to put any potential strike plans on hold if management agree to lift the pay freeze and enter into negotiations with the chapel towards a pay rise for 2011.
Meanwhile union members at the Brighton Argus chapel are preparing for a two-day strike starting tomorrow, in response to job cuts and plans to relocate Brighton's subbing operations to Southampton.
Newsquest has not responded to requests for comment.
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