Friday, February 13, 2009
More class struggle at the Morning Star posted by Richard Seymour
From the NUJ:Morning Star journalists set to strike
NUJ members at the Morning Star have called a strike over pay, with journalists set to walk out next Monday (23 February).
They've voted 11 to three for industrial action and last night called a one-day strike for Monday 23 February - followed by a week of strike action if management refuses to compromise.
NUJ Father of Chapel Steve Mather said: "We're not going to take any more of our bosses' broken promises."
Two years ago, management at the socialist daily averted strike action by pledging to boost pay as soon as money was available.
But, after a £600,000 investment from an "anonymous consortium", staff have been told that none of it will go on their wages. NUJ members have roundly rejected an offer close to 2008 inflation - effectively a pay freeze - alongside a one-off four per cent bonus, because it does nothing to address low pay at the title.
Steve explained: "We don't need one-off bribes, we need a step towards decent pay.
"We all work hard to bring out a decent paper against all the odds, yet our bosses won't even pay us £19,000 after the biggest investment in our history."
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear backed the Morning Star chapel, saying: “Our members feel forced into this action by a management that is refusing to pay its staff a fair rate for their work. They don’t want to go out on strike but if that’s what it takes to win fair pay then they are clear that is what they’ll do."
Deputy Father of Chapel Carl Worswick added: "It's time for management to put its money where its mouth is. We write about workers fighting for fair pay all the time - now it's our turn."
The paper's management committee, which includes several leading trade union figures, has already unilaterally imposed an offer of three per cent on the journalists. The imposition of a pay deal has only served to intensify the dispute.
Labels: class struggle, morning star, socialism, strike, trade unions