WALSALL OBSERVER CLOSES AS 100 JOBS GO

01-07-2009

Birmingham Post and Mail owners Trinity Mirror have announced plans to close the Walsall Observer as part of cuts affecting around 100 jobs in the Midlands.

Nine weekly titles in all are being axed including newspapers in Bedworth, Coleshill, Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth. The Solihull News and Solihull Times are being merged.

The only consolation is that the Birmingham Post, whose future had been questioned, appears to be safe – at least for now. Walsall, though, is now relegated to being a newspaper backwater after the Express and Star recently scaled back its operation in the town.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “For the last week Trinity Mirror managers refused to talk to staff about the changes they were planning. After accusing us of scare mongering they’ve now announced proposals that are even worse than anyone feared.

“Our members have already made their views clear about management’s refusal to be open about their plans, with calls across the Midlands for industrial action ballots.

“It’s time for the company to come clean about all its plans, including its intentions regarding the Birmingham Post and Mail. Trinity Mirror’s approach up to now has shown a disregard for staff and the Midlands communities it serves.”

NUJ Northern Organiser Chris Morley added: “Despite all the mud that has been slung by the managers over the last week, it is clear that nothing has happened to derail them from their course of action. The company has decided to cut loose communities and slash away at journalism on profit-making local titles.

“If they are willing to put the discussion into the proper dispute procedure and guarantee that there will be no job losses until that procedure is exhausted then we might be able to have some serious negotiations.

“But I very much doubt that’s what Trinity Mirror wants. Its only real concern is how quickly it can pull out of the towns it serves and cut away at quality on its remaining titles.”