Friday 19 November 2010
It's Friday. Its Newsquest. It must be bad news.
It could have been worse I suppose. Only 10 jobs going across the three titles. There are difficulties though. There really aren't enough journalists working in Renfield Street as it is. So increased problems for those remaining-no doubt about that. For those desperate to leave or volunteer then we have the not insignificant obstacle of the company appearing to offer only statutory redundancy terms. There could be trouble ahead (as the song goes). On the back of a two year pay freeze, a savage assault on the final salary pension scheme and continued reluctance to offer decent terms to and work to freelances then it is not a happy ship - but hey - not yet the Mary Celeste or Titanic.
Tuesday 9 November 2010
sickies they make me sick
Duty of care is a great phrase. It is actually used extensively in legal claims and is definitely put to regular use by trade union officials trying to protect their members. It is pretty straightforward and I would have thought easy to understand. Even the concept can surely be grasped without too much difficulty. You are the management. This is the employee. You have a duty of care towards them. There, it's simple.
In these days of diminishing numbers in newsrooms, multi-tasking, extra responsibilities without extra pay, longer hours, less breaks, concern as to the future of our industry and jobs then stress levels grow. Not just an increase in pressure which some bosses think is acceptable but damaging stress, which destroys people mentally and physically.
The NUJ has set up counselling in Glasgow for hard-pressed members and mangements have introduced absence management policies. Some response from those with a duty of care.
In these days of diminishing numbers in newsrooms, multi-tasking, extra responsibilities without extra pay, longer hours, less breaks, concern as to the future of our industry and jobs then stress levels grow. Not just an increase in pressure which some bosses think is acceptable but damaging stress, which destroys people mentally and physically.
The NUJ has set up counselling in Glasgow for hard-pressed members and mangements have introduced absence management policies. Some response from those with a duty of care.
Monday 9 August 2010
Pensions and Pensioners
I was at another bloody funeral last week. My old mate and general good guy (for an editor) Joe Kelly passed away after a long hard struggle with cancer. He smoked and drank in the traditional mode and managed people in a way we would all like to be bossed. He never reached pensionable age (is it still 65?) and that is sad. However there are many journalists who will reach a time when they can access their pension, but what will be left for them to pick up?
The BBC have launched a vicious attack on their staff final salary scheme, not just future benefits but past savings too. The NUJ and sister unions are balloting for industrial action and a massive result is expected in favour of a strike option.
Newsquest UK could face the same threat after their decision to renege on past promises to support their FS pension scheme. They announced the bombshell last thing Friday afternoon. A popular time for them, as they did the same with the redundancy terms cut last month. Must be something about letting their staff leave the building with a smile on a Friday. I can feel a new logo coming here from beleagured Newsquest staff "Thank God it's not Friday".
The BBC have launched a vicious attack on their staff final salary scheme, not just future benefits but past savings too. The NUJ and sister unions are balloting for industrial action and a massive result is expected in favour of a strike option.
Newsquest UK could face the same threat after their decision to renege on past promises to support their FS pension scheme. They announced the bombshell last thing Friday afternoon. A popular time for them, as they did the same with the redundancy terms cut last month. Must be something about letting their staff leave the building with a smile on a Friday. I can feel a new logo coming here from beleagured Newsquest staff "Thank God it's not Friday".
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Of that age...
Age is a serious issue for me these days.
Dealing with ageism against women broadcasters who just happen to have passed the 45 year mark;
coping with the ageing process of my own body and mind, battered by stressors of this great job;
watching grandchildren appear among extended family and friends;
and hearing of the death of another friend or colleague.
All of these things remind me that we only have a limited time on this world (unless there is some truth in stories about re-incarnation). So I constantly wonder and ask why don't we, as a society live and behave in a manner designed to creat less havoc, stress and pain to each other. I know - very philosophical today. The current capitalist crisis and the chosen way of responding to it, is going to be the cause of much grief with jobs and services being reduced affecting millions of people.
The NUJ Scottish Executive were criticised by some members last week for getting involved in a street rally to complain and campaign against the coalition proffered solutions. I can understand journalists who are concerned about impartiality and objectivity being affected by this political stance. However we are a trade union and it is our duty to seek and argue for alternatives to job cuts and worsening pay and conditions impacting on the living wage. It doesn't mean all NUJ members are against the coalition or for another political road to salvation. It does mean that democracy and accountability are alive and kicking. One - for the union to get involved and two - for members to complain.
In Cameroon and too many other places around the world, journalists can do neither. Indeed my friend Charles Atangana an NUJ member seeking asylum in this country is such a journalist. Arrested, stripped and beaten for daring to write critical articles against the corruption of his government. He moved to Scotland six years ago, seeking sanctuary from his torturers. Earlier this month he joined me on stage at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow presenting awards to journalists at an Oxfam/NUJ sponsored event. Ironically he was a judge and presenter of the broadcast awards to Radio Clyde and STV, both pieces were thoughtful snatches of journalism on the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers. He was arrested a week later by immigration police and shipped down to detention centres in England with no notice and faced immediate deportation to Cameroon and almost certain violence and death.
Fortunately his lawyers were able to prevent the deportation, but the campaign for Charles to get full asylum status is now in full gear. The NUJ, Refugee Council, Oxfam, Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau where he worked as a voluntary adviser, are all gearing up to show that he is a worthy and essential case for asylum and sanctuary. As a journalist who held his government to account we should all empathise with his plight and demand that this country behave in a civilised manner. They should abide by Article 3 of the EHCR and fight against torture (particularly of journalists) and allow Charles to stay here in safety and then let him work as a journalist to earn his pay and keep on challenging the powers that be.
Maybe his life was saved by the action this week, which goes to show it serves us well never to give up the good fight. Another friend of mine had less chance to fight last week. I had known Rab Soutar for around 32 years. He was an FoC in the old print unions and worked as a skilled print artisan in Govan Press, the Jewish Chronicle and Greenock Telegraph, he had been paid off a few times and was working in the BBC in a non-skilled position. Rab was found dead in a side room in Pacific Quay after a massive heart attack, he was the same age as me. I will miss him every time I go through those doors and remember how he fought the good fight and keep in mind the vulnerability of age.
Dealing with ageism against women broadcasters who just happen to have passed the 45 year mark;
coping with the ageing process of my own body and mind, battered by stressors of this great job;
watching grandchildren appear among extended family and friends;
and hearing of the death of another friend or colleague.
All of these things remind me that we only have a limited time on this world (unless there is some truth in stories about re-incarnation). So I constantly wonder and ask why don't we, as a society live and behave in a manner designed to creat less havoc, stress and pain to each other. I know - very philosophical today. The current capitalist crisis and the chosen way of responding to it, is going to be the cause of much grief with jobs and services being reduced affecting millions of people.
The NUJ Scottish Executive were criticised by some members last week for getting involved in a street rally to complain and campaign against the coalition proffered solutions. I can understand journalists who are concerned about impartiality and objectivity being affected by this political stance. However we are a trade union and it is our duty to seek and argue for alternatives to job cuts and worsening pay and conditions impacting on the living wage. It doesn't mean all NUJ members are against the coalition or for another political road to salvation. It does mean that democracy and accountability are alive and kicking. One - for the union to get involved and two - for members to complain.
In Cameroon and too many other places around the world, journalists can do neither. Indeed my friend Charles Atangana an NUJ member seeking asylum in this country is such a journalist. Arrested, stripped and beaten for daring to write critical articles against the corruption of his government. He moved to Scotland six years ago, seeking sanctuary from his torturers. Earlier this month he joined me on stage at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow presenting awards to journalists at an Oxfam/NUJ sponsored event. Ironically he was a judge and presenter of the broadcast awards to Radio Clyde and STV, both pieces were thoughtful snatches of journalism on the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers. He was arrested a week later by immigration police and shipped down to detention centres in England with no notice and faced immediate deportation to Cameroon and almost certain violence and death.
Fortunately his lawyers were able to prevent the deportation, but the campaign for Charles to get full asylum status is now in full gear. The NUJ, Refugee Council, Oxfam, Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau where he worked as a voluntary adviser, are all gearing up to show that he is a worthy and essential case for asylum and sanctuary. As a journalist who held his government to account we should all empathise with his plight and demand that this country behave in a civilised manner. They should abide by Article 3 of the EHCR and fight against torture (particularly of journalists) and allow Charles to stay here in safety and then let him work as a journalist to earn his pay and keep on challenging the powers that be.
Maybe his life was saved by the action this week, which goes to show it serves us well never to give up the good fight. Another friend of mine had less chance to fight last week. I had known Rab Soutar for around 32 years. He was an FoC in the old print unions and worked as a skilled print artisan in Govan Press, the Jewish Chronicle and Greenock Telegraph, he had been paid off a few times and was working in the BBC in a non-skilled position. Rab was found dead in a side room in Pacific Quay after a massive heart attack, he was the same age as me. I will miss him every time I go through those doors and remember how he fought the good fight and keep in mind the vulnerability of age.
Monday 14 June 2010
Jings crivens, help ma boab!
As if things weren't bad enough for us beleagured union officials, DC Thomson have turned over a new leaf. Unfortunately what we see is not good, their new side is worse than their old side, in fact it is a nightmare scenario for all their staff.
Not satisfied with closing their print plant in Guthrie Street, Dundee with the loss of around 350 jobs, they are MODERNISING editorial departments across all titles. In recent years we have seen many newspapers and brodcasters seek "efficiencies" through new technology and new contractual terms and now DC Thomsons are jumping on the bandwagon. However they have to remember it is a very big jump from the 19th to the 21st century.
Only last year I was singing their praises (admittedly through gritted teeth) at the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, who were looking into the Scottish newspaper crisis. Labour's Jim McGovern and SNP MP Pete Wishart asked me what DCT were like as employers, compared to everyone else. Reluctantly I had to say they were different, while not exactly known for being union friendly, I concurred that we didn't have many problems with them, unlike everyone else over the last 20 years.
However all good things come to an end and even before the arrival of much-beloved Donald Martin as new editor of the Sunday Post, we were finding ourselves camped out in Dundee.
I like Dundee, the weather is usually good. For example the very first time I (or any other NUJ official-ever) was called on to represent a member in a disciplinary/capability type of meeting, there was a blizzard across the central belt. Glasgow was snow-bound, the road between Cumbernauld and Falkirk blocked by two-jackknifed lorries and the diversion was through the icy backroads of Fife. However-there was no way I was going to miss this historic occasion and despite one or two mis-haps and strandings on the ice and snow, I arrived (in a sunny Dundee, with no snow) about an hour late.
Yes you guessed it- they had started without me. Nevertheless I was there, allowed into the building no bother and ushered into an office for the remainder of the hearing. Since that day I have spent a lot of time in and around Dundee, meeting members and potential members who are facing up to imposed changes in their terms and conditions. Longer hours, pay cuts or salary freezes, disgraceful changes in their sick pay entitlement and other new policies designed to make savings and boost profits.
No-one I have spoken to is surprised at the move to modernise, but most are shocked and angry at the way they are being forced through. Many loyal staff members are disgusted at the Thomson family standing back and letting the new management run ragged over their rights. There is a threat to jobs too with redundancies planned as further restructuring takes place to suit the master plan. The NUJ has been recruiting and will be seeking recognition eventually. In the meantime we will continue to offer advice and support individual members in challenging the cuts.
That's our job and we are doing it across the industry, the inclusion of DCThomson into the fray just means we have another badly advised employer to deal with and our industrial, legal and political strategy is once again having to be employed full-time to protect our members and those vulnerable workers in our industry.
Not satisfied with closing their print plant in Guthrie Street, Dundee with the loss of around 350 jobs, they are MODERNISING editorial departments across all titles. In recent years we have seen many newspapers and brodcasters seek "efficiencies" through new technology and new contractual terms and now DC Thomsons are jumping on the bandwagon. However they have to remember it is a very big jump from the 19th to the 21st century.
Only last year I was singing their praises (admittedly through gritted teeth) at the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, who were looking into the Scottish newspaper crisis. Labour's Jim McGovern and SNP MP Pete Wishart asked me what DCT were like as employers, compared to everyone else. Reluctantly I had to say they were different, while not exactly known for being union friendly, I concurred that we didn't have many problems with them, unlike everyone else over the last 20 years.
However all good things come to an end and even before the arrival of much-beloved Donald Martin as new editor of the Sunday Post, we were finding ourselves camped out in Dundee.
I like Dundee, the weather is usually good. For example the very first time I (or any other NUJ official-ever) was called on to represent a member in a disciplinary/capability type of meeting, there was a blizzard across the central belt. Glasgow was snow-bound, the road between Cumbernauld and Falkirk blocked by two-jackknifed lorries and the diversion was through the icy backroads of Fife. However-there was no way I was going to miss this historic occasion and despite one or two mis-haps and strandings on the ice and snow, I arrived (in a sunny Dundee, with no snow) about an hour late.
Yes you guessed it- they had started without me. Nevertheless I was there, allowed into the building no bother and ushered into an office for the remainder of the hearing. Since that day I have spent a lot of time in and around Dundee, meeting members and potential members who are facing up to imposed changes in their terms and conditions. Longer hours, pay cuts or salary freezes, disgraceful changes in their sick pay entitlement and other new policies designed to make savings and boost profits.
No-one I have spoken to is surprised at the move to modernise, but most are shocked and angry at the way they are being forced through. Many loyal staff members are disgusted at the Thomson family standing back and letting the new management run ragged over their rights. There is a threat to jobs too with redundancies planned as further restructuring takes place to suit the master plan. The NUJ has been recruiting and will be seeking recognition eventually. In the meantime we will continue to offer advice and support individual members in challenging the cuts.
That's our job and we are doing it across the industry, the inclusion of DCThomson into the fray just means we have another badly advised employer to deal with and our industrial, legal and political strategy is once again having to be employed full-time to protect our members and those vulnerable workers in our industry.
Thursday 8 April 2010
New technology and efficiencies...
I have two specific meetings next week to discuss new technology and the alleged efficiencies it brings. One is with a company who introduced the "super-duper" "all-singing, all-dancing" system that was supposed to reduce the need for sub-editors and help produce papers in a fast-track way.
I don't like saying this over and over again, but we did warn them that it wouldn't quite be like that.
It is a bit of a shambles and along with ill-thought through restructuring changes, introduced before the system bedded in, then you can imagine things are not too good and staff are completely pissed off and demoralised.
At my second meeting I will try and relay this information in an effort to help avoid similar events and hopefully that message will be taken on board and all the mistakes made elsewhere won't be repeated.
If they are repeated then we will see less staff trying to cope with flawed production systems and the ensuing reduction in quality of the papers and sky high stress levels among NUJ members in particular. It is astonishing that so many newspaper publishers can make the same mistakes along the way to introducing new technology.
They believe what the software salespeople tell them, they ignore the union advice, they make redundancies and cut casual shifts and they do not provide sufficient cover for training or in some cases inadequate training. They then struggle to meet deadlines and maintain quality and wonder why the efficiencies are making things extremely inefficient.
I don't like saying this over and over again, but we did warn them that it wouldn't quite be like that.
It is a bit of a shambles and along with ill-thought through restructuring changes, introduced before the system bedded in, then you can imagine things are not too good and staff are completely pissed off and demoralised.
At my second meeting I will try and relay this information in an effort to help avoid similar events and hopefully that message will be taken on board and all the mistakes made elsewhere won't be repeated.
If they are repeated then we will see less staff trying to cope with flawed production systems and the ensuing reduction in quality of the papers and sky high stress levels among NUJ members in particular. It is astonishing that so many newspaper publishers can make the same mistakes along the way to introducing new technology.
They believe what the software salespeople tell them, they ignore the union advice, they make redundancies and cut casual shifts and they do not provide sufficient cover for training or in some cases inadequate training. They then struggle to meet deadlines and maintain quality and wonder why the efficiencies are making things extremely inefficient.
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