Staff at North Wales Newspaper to be balloted on strike action over planned changes

Journalists at Trinity Mirror North Wales which publishes the Flintshire Chronicle and Daily Post have voted to ballot for industrial action over the company’s plans to ‘restructure’ its news operation.

Trinity Mirror’s restructuring plans would move the Daily Post’s political reporter to North Wales, meaning there will be no specialist based in Cardiff covering the Welsh Assembly.

A move which has prompted a strongly worded statement of opinion fron Assembly Members they write:
The plans would result in unfilled roles, including the newspaper’s executive editor, and the abolition of one digital reporter. This follows two former Daily Post reporters being transferred within Trinity Mirror and not being replaced.

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Members at TM North Wales believe the changes will result in understaffing and create unreasonable workloads, especially for already under-pressure print production staff.

Journalists will be asked to work additional weekend shifts, possibly being required to work weekends twice as often as they do now.

The unanimous decision to ballot for industrial action was taken as NUJ members said they were becoming increasingly exasperated at repeated cuts, they also fear this latest decision will further undermine the viability of the titles.

Paul Scott, NUJ national executive member for Wales, said:

“Our members in North Wales have had enough of Trinity Mirror’s relentless pursuit of editorial cuts. They do not want to take this course of action, but feel they no longer have a choice given the company’s behaviour and the fact that they are constantly in fear of further damaging announcements.

“They are determined to stand up for quality journalism even if their employer refuses to do so.

“We are asking that management replaces journalists who have left the company, reverses their decision on the Daily Post’s political reporter to allow the incumbent of that role to continue to cover the Welsh Assembly from Cardiff and offers proper journalistic career development for digital staff.

“The company should begin talking to our workplace reps as soon as possible so that we can find a way of avoiding any disruption and get on together with the business of serving the people of North Wales.”