PAPER CUTS LEAVE JOURNOS SORE

02-07-2009

Birmingham Post and Mail journalists are fearful of more cuts after owners Trinity Mirror announced the decision to close nine weeklies yesterday. Meanwhile those who’ve lost their jobs in the latest cull are battling for improved redundancy terms.

The Walsall Observer, Lichfield Post and Tamworth Times are among the nine papers due to disappear – fulfilling a prophecy made by the NUJ a week ago.

According to Trinity Mirror, 94 journalism and production jobs will disappear – but the union says that when printing jobs are added the overall total rises to 120.

The figures are significant because if there are more than 100 redundancies, the consultation period has to be extended – by law – from one month to three.

That would allow those heading for the dole queue an extra two months income, and give them more time to sort out alternative employment.

It also allows any prospective buyers an additional window in which to weigh up any offer. Now wonder the NUJ’s lawyers are lurking.

Meanwhile over at Fort Dunlop, the news has done little to calm nerves at the Birmingham Post which, like the weeklies, was on a leaked management “hit list” published last week.

Relief that the Post has survived – at least for now - is tempered by the knowledge that there was clearly substance to the leak. “It’ll be our turn next” sums up the general mood.

Staffers have also noted that Trinity Mirror’s Regional MD Georgina Harvey has offered voluntary redundancy to employees across the region.

Mail editor Steve Dyson might be at the front of the queue if his bosses go ahead with long mooted plans to scrap “on the day” publication – and print the paper overnight.

Dyson has long resisted the idea and told a staff meeting yesterday, “It’s not over until the fat man sings.”

If he loses the battle, though don’t be astonished if the supersized ed seeks pastures new.

DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM