In the south west, the union stirs
THE UNION has revived its branch in Devon and Cornwall as members got together to protest at the way local papers are being damaged.
Thirty attended a meeting in Truro in April, called in the wake of anger at redundancies at Northcliffe subsidiary Cornwall and Devon Media (CDM), publisher of weekly titles the West Briton, Cornish Guardian, Cornishman and North Devon Journal, as well as magazines across the two counties.
Stuart Fraser, whose campaigning against redundancies at CDM was followed by notice of his own, was elected as chair of the revived branch. Six journalist jobs are going at CDM.
His campaign has included a direct protest to Northcliffe chairman Lord Rothermere in a letter copied to colleagues and Cornish MPs in line with the NUJ’s campaign in support of local media, and this letter was highlighted at the branch meeting.
He said: “My letter to Lord Rothermere pointed out that with £317 million in profit last year and £56 million paid to shareholders, and with this year’s profits exceeding expectation, Northcliffe can easily afford to treat its employees with the same concern and generosity it shows to its shareholders.”
Cornish MPs — all Liberal Democrats — are supporting the campaign. One, Andrew George, is seeking a meeting with CDM management.