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NUJ Centenary pics from Peoples Palace Night

Scots Gaelic language - unique online educational course

THE latest step in the promotion of Scots Gaelic language takes place on Monday, 3rd December at 11am at Radio Nan Gael, Inverness with the launch of a unique online educational course. While there are many courses for students learning to speak Gaelic, this new initiative provides a major set of tools to develop and promote the written Gaelic word.


Developed by the National Union of Journalists in conjunction with B�rd Na G�idhlig and Sabhal M�r Ostaig and funded by the European Social Fund through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise the course will provide opportunities to the thousands of Gaelic speakers to improve their skills in writing this ancient language.


At a time when minority languages around the globe are being protected and promoted Scots Gaelic is facing an upsurge in interest. The soon to be announced investment in Gaelic Broadcasting and its provision of a new digital channel will be complemented by this literacy initiative.


Paul Holleran the NUJ Scottish Organiser said: "We are delighted to be involved in this project. The NUJ has a role to play in promoting training in grammar and raising literacy standards. What we have done here is in line with European directives to promote minority languages and particularly to develop and give support for the printed media in Scots Gaelic.

"Our latest innovation in training will go a long way in strengthening and improving the status of Scots Gaelic and I believe it will encourage and improve prospects for employment and involvement in the creative sector for young people.


" Around 260,000 people speak Irish Gaelic around the world and many people in Wales speak their native Welsh language, we believe Scots Gaelic needs the same level of promotion and recognition as those of our Celtic cousins; this course goes some way towards doing that."

The course can be accessed at www.gaelic.nujlearning.com and anyone requiring further information should contact the NUJ Scottish Office on 0141 248 6648 or NUJScotland@nuj.org.uk.

NEWSQUEST REPORT

Around 90 per cent of the work carried out in the NUJ Scottish office over the last few months has been in relation to the Newsquest dispute. A concerted effort by the staff and one or two volunteers all working with the F/MoCs paid dividends and led to a major victory, achieved through a planned and controlled strategic approach.

After a series of one and two day strikes and a continuous work to rule, management accepted the union position and returned to the negotiating table. The issue is about jobs and about the ability of the journalists to produce quality titles with less staff and resources. Part of that battle is tied into recognition of the union's role.

It is ironic that during the dispute management announced de-recognition, bizarrely they claimed it was mutual de-recognition. The industrial action was backed up with a high profile public and political campaign involving cross-party support and a public petition on paper and online. Both of which had a major impact, embarrassing the company with details of their record-making profits while trying to impose more cuts.

A clever health and safety campaign supplemented our arguments over disinvestment and taking staff efforts and working conditions for granted. We involved the local environmental health officers as well as national HSE officers who have been asked by the government to deal with the stress problem in the UK.

Employment lawyers at Thompsons were also very supportive in building up legal threats, including two threatened interim interdicts. This included an embarrassing climb-down by the Evening Times editor Donald Martin who suspended an FoC for being late back from a union meeting.

The strikes were solid with around three to six senior executives in each of the three papers coming together with English based Newsquest sub-editors to produce strike-breaking pathetic versions of the papers. It is believed the MD even joined in the proof reading to get the Sunday Herald out.

Most freelances joined the strike withholding copy, columns and images which cost the company dear to replace. The work to rule turned out to be our biggest weapon, with the withdrawal of good will hitting production particularly hard as people took breaks, lunches and went home on time.

We are now back involved in negotiations and trying to get improved redundancy terms on the table as more jobs are in the firing line as a new editorial system is planned for later this year. We are now operating in a different environment as management recognise our strength and are responding in a more constructive way in the lead up to technological change.

NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS

In concentrating on the Newsquest dispute we obviously neglected everywhere else to a degree and we are now having to deal with the implications. For example The Daily Record chapel is ready for a dispute over various issues including bullying and staff shortages. A number of grievances have been submitted and talks on the problems are happening at the moment.

Clyde and Forth group chapels across Ayrshire have submitted a collective grievance and along with the Scottish Organiser met management to discuss widespread problems related to the heavy workload and expectations on staff to act up and cover absent editors without suitable payment. A range of health and safety issues were also raised and are being dealt with office by office.

Chapels at Scotsman Publications have formed a group chapel committee to look at joint initiatives on pay structures, a new technology agreement and staffing issues.

Scottish Provincial Press chapel took a hard line against the introduction of extra work on the company website. An enabling agreement was eventually reached and monitoring of the workload is currently taking place across the Highlands.

Freelance photographers in the Highlands are up in arms following the appointment of four new staff photographers in SPP. It appears selective distribution of freelance work is now taking place with union activists possibly being victimised.

NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW STRESS

Scottish Television chapel has asked for recognition of the new web desk after recruiting most of these young people who are on fixed term contracts. We have since negotiated new staff contracts and agreement is expected soon.

Regular meetings are taking place in BBC Scotland following the move to Pacific Quay and the introduction of a new editorial system. An extensive H&S risk assessment has been introduced allowing us to monitor workloads and stress levels. There are many glitches with the new equipment and management are asking the union to help identify the scale of the problems. They had taken on 30 new members of staff on fixed term contracts to cover the extensive training programme attached to the new system. Some of these are having their contracts extended already.

HEAVY WORKLOADS, DISCIPLINARIES, AND TALKS

One of our famous stress surveys at Harper Collins has thrown up worrying results, including long hours, heavy workloads, ridiculous deadlines and reduced budgets impacting on members' health. A meeting has been asked for later this month.

The Scottish Organiser is meeting the Minister for Culture later this month to discuss a range of issues including broadcast matters. The meeting is part of the Scottish committee of the FEU initiative through the STUC to engage with senior politicians in the new government.

Organisers have been involved in a spate of interesting disciplinaries, a number of them for gross misconduct, with 100% success in saving members' jobs. A number of grievances have also been successful in some difficult circumstances, for example in places where we are still organising and recruiting such as Talk 107 radio station in Edinburgh.

More from Paul's Diary

PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
The NUJ Scottish office has made an initial submission to the Scottish Parliament�s allowances review panel. The union has argued that researchers and public relations officers working for MSPs should have a proper pay structure, and salary calculations should be separated from the allowances claimed by their employers. We also asked for better contractual conditions to be introduced across the board, which are more comparable with other workers employed at Holyrood.

GENEROSIY?
Johnston Press are not generally known for their generosity but some real progress has been made following negotiations for the Border chapel (Tweeddale Press). A two year deal was agreed at chapel meeting in Kelso this week. The compound increases range from 7.32% to 9.76% over two years, with further improvements in place for trainees. At the same time management have acted quickly to address low pay at the recently acquired titles based in Newton Stewart. Reporters quickly accepted an offer to increase their pay by up to 30% by January 2008.

GRIEVANCES GALORE
Grievances galore are being lined up across Scotland. Claims of bullying, long hours, lack of acting up pay and victimisation are rife at the moment. Watch this space.

A bit of Paul's Diary

BULLYING
While the Newsquest dispute has dominated the headlines and the workload of NUJ officials in recent weeks, the rest of the industry has continued as normal. Of course normal isn't always good in the media and some old bad habits are being resurrected while the union is temporarily diverted. The destructive practice of bullying for example is raising it's ugly head but I can reassure members that any such aberrations will be acted on immediately. Some companies never learn and the same can be said for editorial managers, however watch this space as some drastic action may be required to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour in one or two high profile workplaces.

WORKLOAD
Another recent development or deterioration has been the increase in the expectations of bosses who believe there is a bottomless pit of goodwill among journalists. The union is just about to submit a collective grievance against a leading weekly newspaper group as reporters, subs and snappers have had enough of the unreasonable demands on their time and expertise. One of the many problems is in relation to providing cover for absent editors, without financial compensation or acting up pay. Another issue is in relation to young hacks on supressed trainee rates being expected to do the work of senior staff. I feel a dispute in the air with this one. Names will be named next week.

NEGOTIATIONS
Johnston Press group chapel is meeting to discuss their role in the ever-growing Bowdler empire. In Scotland JP now takes in all the old Archant titles and the union has written asking for full recognition for the dozen or so chapels. The talks will also include where the various chapels will fit into the negotiating set up, currently there are two sets of negotiations covering central belt with Fife, Falkirk and Lanarkshire and the Borders involving Tweeddale Press across to Galloway and up to Dalkeith.

STRESS
BBC Scotland management have asked me for a meeting in their Aberdeen offices with HR and chapel officers about the recent stress survey introduced by the FoC Eric Crockart. The union has a health and safety/risk assessment agreement covering Pacific Quay and it is expected we will explore how relevant that document is for the northern office

Early talks appear constructive

Following suspension of industrial action last Friday (3 Aug) Paul Holleran held a two hour meeting with Tim Blott on Tuesday morning, which was constructive and positive from the union�s perspective.

The new editorial production system was the main subject. A lot of time was spent discussing the timescale for introduction; it's range of operations and the possible implications for certain departments. Paul Holleran will be liaising with senior management with responsibility for technology and training to set up a series of demonstrations so we can see the way it works.

We will be setting up our own working party to oversee the implementation, including timescale, training, re-deployment etc. and are looking for a union learning rep from each chapel who can work closely with us in determining our approach to this project.

Included in the discussion was a new house agreement; it was agreed that full negotiations would take place with the new HR guy who starts in mid-September.

Also discussed were the parameters of a new technology agreement and Blott was provided with copies of agreements held with other companies for example. Training in the digital convergence should start soon and there will be a meeting with senior management next week to discuss the details of that.

Strikes, suspension, and world wide support�

As we move into August, this will prove to be a critical time as the dispute at Newsquest, although progressing with industrial action suspended, is still not settled. Action led to the reinstatement of Evening Times deputy FoC Gordon Thomson on Tuesday, while a work to rule caused the cancellation of digital training planned for next week. Meanwhile the dispute has been hotly discussed online and the NUJ Scottish office has seen a flood of support from all over the world including Slovenia, Australia and the United States.

Industrial action suspended following agreement

Last minute talks yesterday failed to prevent Evening Times staff taking strike action on hold. Evening Times staff formed a picket line this morning at 6am and were joined by Sunday Herald staff who walked out at 11am. During this time talks were going on behind the scenes, which resulted in an agreement being reached at 11.30am. Following an address from Scottish organiser Paul Holleran staff returned to work as normal. The strike at the Sunday Herald was planned to coincide with the re-launch of the paper, causing major embarrassment as the company has spent freely on advertising the new-look title. Changes include business being folded into the main section and Seven Days into the magazine. Below is the dialogue that held up the dispute.

Initial outline from Paul:
The individual concerned will not face immediate compulsory redundancy as part of the current talks. However she will be included in redundancies resulting from negotiations over the introduction of the new editorial production system. Her last salary payment will be in the September payroll.

The management at Newsquest (Herald&Times Group) will immediately re-recognise the NUJ and open talks next week on a new house agreement and the introduction of the new editorial production system. (We need to agree the parameters of these talks.)

Strike action planned for tomorrow will be called off. The full resolution of the dispute will depend eventually on how the company handles negotiations on the next phase of redundancies.

Altered to the following:
THE NUJ and Newsquest (Herald&Times Group) management agree to open talks next week on the introduction of the new editorial production system. If is established that the new system may lead to redundancies, then the parameters of the talks will begin with the previously agreed process; This will entail seeking volunteers, early retirements, re-training, re-deployment and any other alternative before discussing the possibility of demands for compulsory redundancies.

Tim�s response:
I can confirm I am happy with this form of words both as a resolution to the industrial action and a joint statement to the media.

Herald and Times digital media training cancelled

It was announced yesterday that the Herald and Times Group�s first multi-media training course has been cancelled as �The current work to rule at all the titles and the magazines has resulted in insufficient candidates to make the course viable.� The course, due to start next Thursday, was to take place at Glasgow Caledonian University one day a week over three weeks covering audio and visual producing and presenting.

Newsquest union official suspended

Gordon Thomson, Deputy FoC at the Glasgow Evening Times, was suspended on Friday (27/07) following a lunchtime meeting with fellow union officials, including Scottish organiser Paul Holleran. Upon his return, associate editor Graeme Smith asked him to attend a meeting with him and editor Donald Martin. Gordon requested he be accompanied as is his right in front of two managers and this was refused. After he walked out of the editors office and phoned a full time union official he was informed, in front of the entire floor, that he would be suspended. After waiting until he had received it in writing, FoC John McCann walked him off the floor, at which point John was told that if he left the floor he would be suspened as well for unauthorised absence. The NUJ informed them that if the suspension was not lifted on Friday they would ask lawyers to look into mounting legal action. Over the weekend an SNP trade union group declared a boycott of the paper until he was reinstated. Convener Anne McNair said that they would keep an eye on the what happens. On Tuesday (31/07) Gordon was reinstated and Martin said he is �happy to put this issue behind us�. He claims that he was trying to have an informal meeting, which he is �prepared to accept� was �erroneously perceived as a formal disciplinary hearing�. Below are some quotes from a discussion on www.allmediascotland.com

"Gordon Thomson is entitled to be accompanied under the 2004 Employment legislation. This is another pathetic, blatant - and counter-productive attempt by Martin to build a reputation for being tough. He's bang to rights on this one. The staff who witnessed his disgraceful public display of spite are now welded to the union and the strike on Friday."
The Outlaw2 30/07/2007

"From down south, where I'm watching, it looks to me like Newsquest are rattled. Such disgraceful behaviour from an Evening Times editor will infuriate not only journalists but also thousands of readers who have turned to Times journalists in the past for help in dealing with exactly the same kind of workplace bullying. Truly shameful...Donald Martin: a disgrace to the industry. Keep the pressure up and good luck!"
Jim McLean 30/07/2007

"shocking bullying from the editor D martin. He should be sacked immediately. I and most of my workmates at a large glasgow bank will not be buying the paper till he is gone ! or the union rep reinstated with a full apology."
gil 30/07/2007

"Save Tommo! Down with Donald "Ricky" Martin!"
Its_war 30/07/2007

"I can put it in two words "Tommo won""
Striker 31/07/2007

"the first battle has been won, seems like all we have to do is keep the pressure up and management will hang themselves. "moan the nuj!""
murph 31/07/2007

NUJ and striking members receive world wide support

Over the past few days NUJ Scotland has received emails from all over the world including the US, Slovenia, and Australia. Steve Orr, president of the journalists� union at the former flagship paper and hometown for the Gannet Company, Democrat and Chronicle newspaper, in Rochester, New York was in touch on Wednesday. He explained �we have had our own travails � 15 years with no new contract! � but no large number of compulsory redundancies to date� and offered to put something up on their local unions website. An email also received Wednesday came from Neva Nahtigal, vice president of the Slovenian Union of Journalists who offered continuous support of the �strike action at Newsquest and all other activities in defence of jobs and quality journalism�. And yesterday, came support from The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which represents Australia�s journalists. Federal Secretary, Chris Warren, says they have �watched with dismay the progress of the dispute between your members at The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times � We recognise that the swingeing budget cuts and pressure applied to staffing levels through enforced redundancies and non-replacement of departing staff inevitably puts pressure on the quality of the mastheads. This, while your owners, Gannett Inc., is choosing to reward its shareholders rather than invest in the future of its newspapers. Journalists throughout Australia applaud the solidarity shown by NUJ members and pledge our support in your ongoing struggle to defend your jobs and uphold your professional standards. Good luck on Friday!� Beyond this there has been continued support closer to home with Leo McMahon, FOC, Southern Star newspaper chapel, Skibbereen County Cork Ireland �writing again to re-iterate the support of our chapel and the Cork branch of the NUJ�.

Motion tabled in Scottish Parliament

Last week an email was received from the Scottish Parliament with the subject �MSP slates Newsquest�. Further details revealed that Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament expressing concerns about the Herald Group and that supporters so far include Labour, SNP and Green MSP�s. The motion reads:

S3M-305 Cathy Peattie: Herald Group of Newspapers � That the Parliament views with concern recent developments within the Herald group of newspapers; notes that there has been a significant reduction in editorial staffing levels with further job cuts now proposed and that this has clear implication for the quality and content of publication and along with other health and safety, for stress and staff health; notes that these developments are taking place despite increased profits and assurances given by Newsquest to the Competition Commission, and believes that this is to the detriment of the long term future of the titles and the Scottish newspaper industry.

Cathy Peattie said that she was not surprised that staff had walked out. �They have a long list of causes for dissatisfaction � redundancies, staffing shortages, poor working conditions and high stress levels. This is damaging the health of the workers and the health of the paper. Rather than discuss the problems, Newsquest has derecognised the NUJ.

�Profits are up, staffing is down, and standards are sure to follow, but still they are looking for a further �3m in cuts. Some of the proposed compulsory redundancies have been averted by redeployment, but it�s mighty suspicious that the one remaining is a female sub-editor who also has a disability, and there is good reason to believe that the company will be looking for more compulsory redundancies in the near future.

�Newsquest�s purchase of the Herald group was backed by assurances that they would maintain standards and not cut editorial budgets. The Competition Commision may have decided that too much time has passed for it to be able to do anything, but that doesn�t change the fact that Newsquest gave assurances via the commission to the people of Scotland, and those assurances now look worthless.�

Paul Holleran of the NUJ said �There is growing public and political support for our campaign to save jobs and protect the quality of these papers and the strength of feeling among the staff is growing by the day. We are delighted that MSP�s will have a chance to add to their already much appreciated support.�

Individuals express their thoughts online

The following are some comments from a discussion thread on www.allmediascotland.com

�What we're trying to achieve is the principle of no compulsory redundancies. After all, they are especially needless when there are still volunteers being refused redundancy, and compulsories are instead being used to pick off staff the company doesn't like. Sadly, it's the long-termers with their high salaries and experience the company wants rid of, which is more damaging to the papers in the long term."
atenhut 01/08/2007

"Newsquest plan to announce up to 50 more redundancies before the end of the year, after the new editorial system is up and running. The majority will be compulsory. Blott is on record as describing it as "the second phase of the editorial redundancy programme". We are fighting for the future of these titles."
wake up 01/08/2007

"If one journalist is forced to take compulsory redundacy here then EVERYONE else runs the same risk of being sacked in future whenever management wants, for whatever reason. Of course it IS an all or nothing scenario. That's what principles, and union membership, are all about. Good luck!"
comic2 01/08/2007

"This American company is - through its dismantling of the Herald - destroying more than 200 years of Scots history. If that isn't a reason to take a stand, black friday (if indeed you are even a journalist - which I doubt) I don't know what is."
shinyhappyperson 01/08/2007

"The damage that has been done to the standing of the Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times in the public forum may sadly be irreversible. To witness on a daily basis Newsquest lackeys working to break the industrial action is distressing for the workforce and can only corrode public confidence in the apparently progressive line of the titles. If this strike is not resolved to the satisfaction of common decency, there is nothing left to fight for."
rkocaine 02/08/2007