Two chapels:
two Petes in partnership
THEY are the heavy cutlass and the rapier foil at the cutting edge of two proud NUJ chapels in Leeds. Meet Peter Lazenby and Peter Johnson, Fathers of Chapel at the Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post respectively.
The two Petes have each put in more than 30 years at their papers, enduring the dark years of union derecognition and leading their members’ successful fight to regain their union rights.
Their styles complement one another perfectly, confrontations with management usually seeing Peter L going into battle first, his cards-on-the-table debating style batting through any bluff and nonsense.
This paves the way for Peter J to move in and use his financial nous and grasp of detail to dismantle management’s arguments.
The partnership works equally well at chapel meetings, Peter L usually leading the debate, his counterpart getting to his feet should the nub of an issue need explaining.
Both are working staggeringly hard during the ongoing strike at the YEP and YP, putting in long days in the run-up to the dispute and then again on the picket line. Their work is not confined to industrial activity: the duo are constantly involved with NUJ work, dealing with everyday problems from members, serving on the group chapel, of which Peter J is FoC, and running the Leeds branch, of which Peter L is chairman.
YEP chapel secretary Richard Edwards, a first-time striker in the dispute, said: “It has been brilliant to learn from these two top activists. I can speak for every member at the YEP and YP when I say a big thank-you to them. Their commitment to the NUJ is total.”