date: April 26 2002 embargo: immediate

Attention: industrial, NW media, union journals

TUC gives backing to Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers staff after union derecognition

TUC General Secretary John Monks has given the TUC’s support to NUJ members at Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers who have had their union derecognised following a strike ballot in a dispute about low pay at the group. Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers is part of the Guardian Media Group.

Journalists earn as little as £10,480 a year and rejected a management offer of 2.5%. Following a decision to take strike action by a unanimous vote of NUJ members at the newspaper group, the management derecognised the union.

TUC General Secretary John Monks said, 'This is now a dispute of national importance. The derecognition of the NUJ has escalated this dispute from a straightforward dispute about low pay into an issue of principle for the whole trade union movement. Quite simply the staff at these newspapers have the right to be represented by a union if that is what they choose. Derecognising the union is an attack on the basic human rights of these hard working and low paid employees.

'It is particularly disappointing to see this in part of the Guardian Media Group, who have not taken the anti-union path of other media owners. The Guardian is on the side of social justice and human rights.'

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Press release (400 words) issued 26 Apr 2002