Not true that I broke all strikes at the Sun
I AM willing to accept criticism for having resigned from the union. Some of it has been tough to read, but I expected it and respect almost all those who disagree with me.
What I am not prepared to allow to pass are gross inaccuracies that cast a slur on my record as a trade unionist, particularly the letters from Ian Blunt and Malcolm Withers. They are guilty of rewriting history.
Firstly, in my first two periods at The Sun (1969-71, 1971-73) I was responsible for leading strikes, most notably on behalf of the NGA print union when its members were locked out.
Secondly, I could not have broken the strike that Withers mentions in relation to Arthur Edwards, a friend of mine of more than 40 years standing.
I have checked with Arthur and he joined The Sun staff in January 1975. I was not employed by The Sun at the time. I was, in fact, the casuals’ chapel FoC at the Sunday Mirror from 1975 until 1979.
Thirdly, in my third period at The Sun (1981-86), there were two NUJ strikes, in 1982 during the Falklands War, and in 1984. On the first occasion I did work for one strike day, which was the result of my having given my word personally to Rupert Murdoch on joining the paper that I would not lead union action. But I joined the strike on the second day, not a glorious moment but nothing like as bad as Withers and Blunt suggest.
In July 1984, there was a further strike and I did not work at all, most obviously because it overlapped with my wedding and subsequent honeymoon. During both the 1982 and 1984 strikes, incidentally, NGA members crossed the picket lines.
That is directly relevant to my fourth point about why I decided to the move to Wapping in January 1986 along with the overwhelming majority of the NUJ chapel. I have written extensively about this matter. It was a difficult decision, but I did not agonise unduly.
The simple fact was that I was not prepared to support people who had refused to support us.
I was also convinced that the print unions were doing all they could to stand in the way of technological progress.
Now I find myself at odds with the NUJ over its failure to engage with technological progress too. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.