What a week. What a month. What a job.

It can't be good for anyone to experience the swing in emotions that I have gone through this week. On the other hand it does confirm the fact that I may have been subjected to that old Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times".


To be fair some of the issues which have made my blood boil have been personal and family orientated, however sticking to work I can honestly say it has been an emotional trampoline. While trying to save the job of a new member at the BBC I received a message that our campaign to stop the deportation of a brave young journalist back to his Gambian homeland had paid dividends. Alieu Cissay had been targeted by no less than the Gambian Justice minister who named the campaigning NUJ member as someone they would "keep a warm welcome reserved for traitors" and similar threats. Along with his wonderful wife and baby son, Alieu is now free to stay in Scotland for another five years under Asylum status and I was overcome with relief, delight and pride in the input of the NUJ in this victory for human rights and journalism.
Unfortunately BBC management decided they wanted rid of my member and sacked him, which was particularly upsetting for the guy and something that left a horrible feeling in my stomach as I am not sure justice has been done and an appeal will be submitted.
Things deteriorated somewhat and as the week progressed it became apparent that the many calls for Trinity Mirror management to stop the planned compulsory redundancies had fallen on deaf ears. Although we had some success in saving a host of jobs and deferring a number of redundancies it was a very sad occasion at Friday's chapel meeting as around 50 people were clapped out of the Record building. Many of these talented journalists had given between 10 and 47 years service, providing images, copy, design and commitment to the titles at Central Quay, helping the company make massive profits, only for the fat cats on the Trinity board to mis-manage and dis-invest in the products. My thoughts and well wishes go with all those now searching for a new future.
Despite the setbacks and upsets the fight goes on for the individual journalists and for the future of the Scottish Press as our interesting times continue at pace.