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Breakfast meeting on 8th September 2011 of SYN strikers, photo Alistair Tice (Click to enlarge)
Striking journalists suspend action for talks
National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members at South Yorkshire Newspapers (SYN) who have been on indefinite strike over job cuts, office closures, reduction of quality to their titles and workload, returned to work on Thursday 8th September after 55 days out on strike.
The NUJ chapel unanimously agreed to formally suspend the strike to allow talks to take place with management.
During the campaign, the chapel has been highly successful in exposing the hugely damaging strategy of cuts at Johnston Press and confronted outgoing chief executive John Fry to bring home to him and fellow directors the devastation being caused to quality journalism.
Martin Herron, NUJ member said: "We have offered the company several opportunities to talk and been rebuffed.
"However SYN have now agreed that we can return to work without cancelling any further industrial action.
"Given that, we feel it is in everyone's interest - the readers', the company's and our own - to return to work to allow talks to begin.
"The chapel is still very much united and we hope we will be able to find common ground with the company which will lead to an improvement in working conditions and in the quality of the newspapers we produce."
Doncaster demo during SYN journalists' strike, photo Alistair Tice (Click to enlarge)
At a strikers' breakfast meeting held before returning to work, NUJ official Chris Morley said what an inspiration the two dozen strikers have been for NUJ members around the country.
Their solidarity and determination not to be cowed into accepting cuts has already spurred NUJ members in Newsquest North West and the Newcastle Chronicle to also vote for strike action against job losses.
Chris also thanked the Socialist Party for its support for the strikers in Doncaster.
Please email your support and congratulations to the DFP NUJ Chapel, rep Darren Burke at darrenpburke@gmail.com or text 07972 091299
Alistair Tice
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