North London Tindle dispute over staffing resolved

The NUJ members who have been in dispute with Sir Ray Tindle's North London & Herts Newspapers over low staffing levels have called off their second strike following what they say are concessions from management.

The NUJ said that following a successful day of negotiations Tindle has agreed to reverse its policy of non-replacement agreeing to a six month moratorium on present staffing levels, guaranteeing that if anyone in editorial leaves over this period they will be replaced.

The company, according to the union, have also agreed an extra reporter to work for half the week to help out with the current workload. The situation after six months will then be reviewed.

Redundancy consultation notices issued to staff on the eve of their first walk out have been withdrawn.

Jonathan Lovett FoC at North London & Herts Newspapers ( top left) said: "It has been a long, hard struggle but we are satisfied with the result and now look forward to working together with Tindle to ensure our papers are returned to the quality publications which our readers deserve. We have many ideas for the future of our papers and we look forward to sharing them with the Tindle management across the table."

Enfield hosts the launch of a national, NUJ campaign on Monday, July 4 to save local newspapers. It starts at 6.30pm at The Dugdale Centre in Thomas Hardy House, 39 London Road, Enfield, EN2 6DS.

Pic: Jon Slattery

Tindle North London staff vote for more strikes

NUJ members at North London & Herts Newspapers, owned by Sir Ray Tindle, have voted for more strike action in the dispute over low staffing and quality of editorial.

The 100 per cent support for action - which included the editor joining the ballot for the first time - was, the NUJ chapel says, the result of management's refusal to meet or even discuss the staffing at the Enfield-based papers, where two thirds of the newsdesk have left without being replaced.

The chapel claims that even before their two-week strike two months ago there were just three reporters "churning out" nine newspapers. Since then, one of the three has handed in her notice, meaning they are now faced two reporters writing nine papers. The union also claims management has cut freelance cover for photographic, production and editorial.

FoC Jonathan Lovett (top left) said: "The latest cuts and suicidal policy of non-replacement is final proof that Tindle couldn't give a damn about quality papers. The man who claims he is the saviour of local newspapers is, in our experience, the destroyer as he runs once loved, award-winning publications into the ground - an insult to our readers. The battle for the soul of the local press is raging up and down the country and now is the time for chapels, journalists and concerned readers to stand up and be counted before it is too late and fantastic local papers that once made a difference in their communities are consigned to the scrap heap."

Tindle Newspapers have condemned the strike action taken by the NUJ members and has claimed it would be "irresponsible" for the North London company to take on new people or increase pay because of the centre's rising losses.

Tindle Newspapers says it is the only newspaper group to have avoided redundancies among journalists in the recession to date.

North London & Herts Newspapers comprises: The Enfield Advertiser, The Edmonton Advertiser & Herald, The Winchmore Hill Advertiser & Herald, The Haringey Advertiser, The Enfield Gazette, The Barnet & Potters Bar Press, The East Barnet Press & Advertiser, The Edgware & Mill Hill Press, The Hendon & Finchley Press.

• The NUJ has chosen Enfield as the launch pad for a national campaign to save local newspapers. A public forum will take place at 6.30pm on Monday, July 4 at the Dugdale Centre, Thomas Hardy House, London Road, Enfield Town, EN2 6DS. A range of speakers including MPs and the new general secretary of the NUJ, Michelle Stanistreet.
• NUJ members at Newsquest South London began a two-day strike today over job cuts.
• Pic: Jon Slattery
  

MP backs Tindle journalists 'defence of quality'

Edmonton Labour MP Andy Love has put down an early day motion in the Commons backing the NUJ journalists at Sir Ray Tindle's North London and Herts Newspaper group who have taken strike action over low staffing.

It reads: "That this House applauds the stand taken by journalists at the North London and Herts newspaper group in defence of quality newspapers; notes that over the last two years more than half of the newsdesk have left the newspapers without new staff being appointed; further notes that there are now only two reporters covering nine newspapers; believes that journalists are therefore unable to cover important stories in depth, are unable to cover community or political events, council meetings and court cases; believes that this runs contrary to the Tindle Newspapers Ltd's local newspaper philosophy; further notes that the group's proprietor Sir Ray Tindle has a personal fortune of 149 million and that the parent company made 8.6 million profit two years ago; and calls on Sir Ray Tindle to meet with the National Union of Journalists in order to resolve this dispute and preserve quality newspapers for the local communities."

Pic: Jon Slattery

A good day to bury news: Strikers stage mock funeral of titles in editorial quality dispute

A mock funeral for the newspapers at the centre of a dispute about editorial quality took place in the centre of Enfield today.

Nine NUJ members on strike at North London & Herts Newspapers organised the funeral to highlight staff shortages which they claim are harming the quality of their newspapers and could lead to them going out of business.

Led by NUJ FoC Jonathan Lovett, dressed as a priest, the journalists and their supporters carried a coffin with the names of some of their newspaper titles, which include the Enfield Advertiser, Enfield Gazette, Haringey Advertiser and Barnet Press, written on the side.

Lovett urged members of the public to write to the newspapers' owner, Sir Ray Tindle, to back their call for more staff. He said the journalists would end their action if they were given one more reporter and guarantees that staff would be replaced.

Lovett added: "This feels like the last stand for quality journalism in the borough. We've got just three reporters putting out nine newspapers. The strike was a last option."

NUJ head of publishing Barry Fitzpatrick told "mourners" the strike was "proof that journalists care". He said: "This is the frontline in a battle going on throughout the regional press."

Tindle Newspapers say the North London newspapers are losing money and being subsidised by the rest of the group. The strikers were warned in letters on the eve of the action that their newspapers may face reorganisation and there could be redundancies.

Pic: NUJ FoC Jonathan Lovett, dressed as a priest, leads the mock funeral through Enfield. (Jon Slattery)

Strike starts at Tindle titles in North London as journalists are warned of posssible redundancies

NUJ members at the Sir Ray Tindle-owned North London & Herts Newspaper group began a two week strike over low staffing levels today which they say are harming the editorial quality of their titles.

The nine NUJ journalists claim more than a third of editorial staff have left without being replaced and key positions are not being filled.

NUJ FoC Jonathan Lovett said: “This dispute is solely about the quality of our papers, we are not asking for more pay. We are hard working journalists trying to do a decent job without having to rely on people doing work experience. Staff are not being replaced and we have three reporters churning out nine newspapers every week.”

The journalists are planning a mock funeral procession in Enfield tomorrow to mark the death of their newspapers.

Tindle Newspapers says it regrets the decision of the NUJ members and claims the company was unable to take on new people or increase pay because of the North London centre's rising losses. It also says Tindle Newspapers is the only newspaper group not to have made journalists redundant during the recession.

Lovett said that the journalists were warned on the eve of the strike that the papers may be restructured and there could be redundancies.

Tindle Newspapers said in a statement to HoldtheFrontPage: "The rest of the group is currently supporting Enfield, but it is not possible for the group to continue to support the current level of loss.

"It follows that unless we are able to increase our profitability dramatically over the coming weeks, we will need to take action to make the papers profitable.

"We may do this by re-structuring the newspapers, which could potentially result in redundancies."

North London & Herts Newspapers comprises: The Enfield Advertiser, The Edmonton Advertiser, The Winchmore Hill Advertiser & Herald, The Enfield Gazette, The Barnet & Potters Bar Press, The East Barnet Press & Advertiser, The Edgware & Mill Hill Press, The Hendon & Finchley Press and The Haringey Advertiser.

Pic: NUJ