Peace breaks out at the MEN

14 May 2006

Peace has broken out at the Manchester Evening News. Just days before the declaration of the result of the second industrial action ballot in the dispute about evening working, an improved deal was put to the chapel on Friday May 12 and accepted.

The ballot result will not be declared and chapel members are now preparing to see the latest rotas, drawn up under the newly-agreed guidelines. (Full Story)

Journalists vote in second strike ballot

30 April 2006

Journalists at the MEN are voting in yet another strike ballot while, at the same time, chapel officers try to find a solution to the dilemma of flexible working.

The latest compromise offered by management after tortuous negotiations supervised by an Acas conciliator was rejected wholeheartedly by the chapel because it confirmed that for sub-editors – now combined in a news/features pool – nearly half their working lives would involve evening shifts. (Full Story)

Journalists reject latest deal as new rotas start

2 April 2006

Last Friday was a crunch day for the MEN chapel. New rotas were due to start on Sunday April 2. If agreement was not reached on a new flexibility deal, management had warned it would impose the new shift patterns. (Full Story)

One fifth of MEN journalists are made redundant
– and where was the editor?

Friday March 3 2006 was a sad day for journalists at the Manchester Evening News, when 27 of their colleagues/comrades/friends plus a number of editorial support staff were made redundant. It could have been worse, they were all 'voluntary' although many were clearly leaving after being made an offer they couldn't refuse – jump or be pushed.

Their pals made it a day to remember with gifts, cards, emotional farewells and a party to end all parties at a local hostelry where chapel finances were put to good use. Fighting funds are to lift the spirits as well as gird the loins. (Full Story)

MEN management brought to the table

The hard line pursued relentlessly by the management at the Manchester Evening News softened a little just hours after they received the latest chapel resolution.

A packed NUJ meeting had wholeheartedly condemned CEO Mark Dodson and his team for their intransigence, refusal to disclose any information and bullying tactics at their last meeting with the chapel committee. (Full Story)

Council leader supports journalists

Manchester City Council Leader, Richard Leese has described the situation at the Manchester Evening News as "completely unacceptable". In a letter to the NUJ chapel he said he would be writing to the Scott Trust. (Full Story)

Liz Forgan responds to the dispute

Liz Forgan, the chair of the Scott Trust, has told NUJ members at the Manchester Evening News that she will make sure that members of the Trust are fully briefed both on the changes and the reaction to them. Her assurance came in a response to an email from the chapel expressing its dismay at the proposed changes. (Full Story)

Manchester Evening News axes one in five jobs

Journalists at the Manchester Evening News call for support as, despite making record profits of £32.6m last year, the paper's bosses set out drastic cuts, including axing 22% of the workforce, getting rid of 27 journalists – including all photographers – and making eight clerical staff redundant. (Full Story)

Huge job cuts hit Manchester Evening News

More than a fifth of journalists at the Manchester Evening News are to lose their jobs, managers told stunned staff at a meeting today (1/2/06).

A total of 35 jobs will go at the paper – eight clerical and 27 journalists. This represents 22.3% of the total editorial staff. (Full Story)

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