They will join journalists at sister news outlets including the Daily Mirror, the Daily Star and dozens of local papers in strike action on Friday. It marks the start of a month of industrial action designed to disrupt production at the news outlets, all of which are owned by publishing giant Reach. Although one headline reporter acknowledged that a right-wing anti-union newspaper going on strike is a “satirist’s dream”, he insisted there is solidarity among union staff across all Reach titles, regardless of their political stance. Members of the National Union of Journalists voted to strike after rejecting bosses’ proposal for a 3% pay rise as insufficient to tackle the cost of living crisis. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. While Reach chief executive Jim Mullen took home £4m last year, many of his journalists say they are struggling financially. Starting salaries for journalists at Reach’s national newspapers are around £22,000 – well below the average UK salary for jobs that often require extensive training and experience. Regional newspaper reporters can earn under £20,000, with many now facing increased energy bills due to a permanent shift to working at home. One issue facing the striking staff of Reach’s local newspapers is that it is not clear how they can get to work in their workplace, given that Reach has closed most of its local newspaper offices. Matt Capon, convenor of the NUJ’s Mirror division, said: “Our members are focused and clear about what they want – a dialogue with the company to make them understand that the cost of living is an issue that affects everyone, including journalists. .” Reach – formerly known as Trinity Mirror – is one of the largest employers of journalists in the UK. In recent years it has bought dozens of newspapers, including the Daily Express and Daily Star, in addition to launching new local websites just under the ‘Live’ brand. In an attempt to limit the scale of the action, bosses have sent a letter to staff reminding them that anyone who strikes will give up their right to take part in an annual share bonus scheme. Staff have also been asked to contact the company if they feel pressured to strike. Journalists at the Mirror are particularly distressed by the contrast between the agency’s stated left-wing political beliefs and its treatment of workers. The newspaper has repeatedly criticized the fat salaries of executives and inequality in society. There is still a chance that pay talks will continue, amid speculation that Reach will make a last-minute financial bid in a bid to win over staff. Some Mirror journalists represented by the rival British Union of Journalists have already voted to accept the 3% pay deal, believing the company will not go higher. Despite its right-wing political positions in recent decades, Express staff have a strong history of union activity. NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet worked for the Express before becoming a full-time union official. Even the newspaper bosses do not necessarily come from a right-wing tradition. Daily Express editor Gary Jones is a lifelong Labor voter.
