PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
NEWSQUEST NEWSPAPERS GROUP (7 December 2010)

That this House supports the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members taking industrial action at Newsquest Newspapers Group; believes they have been forced to take this course of action as a result of widespread attacks on jobs and an on-going imposed three-year pay freeze; notes the company is generating huge profits and the latest accounts for parent company Gannett UK show that the highest paid director enjoyed a massive 108,000 hike in his overall pay to 609,235 last year which exposes the corporate greed doing so much damage to their papers and websites; further notes that trade union members have balloted for and have taken strike action at a number of Newsquest sites across the UK; further notes the determination of NUJ members at Newsquest to oppose pay freezes, attacks on their pensions and job cuts; commends their stand to defend quality journalism; and urges Newsquest to enter into meaningful discussions with the NUJ at all levels to resolve these disputes by protecting jobs and investing in the journalism of its titles and websites to meet the needs of local communities and advertisers.

Sponsored by:
Austin Mitchell (Labour)