Guardian and Observer strike enters final day
Striking journalists outside the Guardian’s HQ in London were upbeat and determined during their second 48-hour stoppage in protest at the hurried sale of the Observer with a festive sing-along of seasonal carols and solidarity songs.
Following last week’s two-day strike, NUJ members once again showed their resolve. They kicked off the second 48 hour strike within two weeks with many journalists announcing on social media that they were not working yesterday or today, Friday 13 December. The effect on the Guardian's website was apparent, with stories beginning to appear under Guardian staff bylines or news agency credits.
The journalists were spurred on throughout the day by supporters on the festive picket line outside the Guardian’s HQ, Kings Place in King's Cross, London and messages of solidarity. Those in attendance included cartoonist Martin Rowson, former MP and NNUJ president Denis McShane, NUJ general secretary-elect Laura Davison, assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley, vice president Gerry Curran and senior organiser Andy Smith.
The journalists were spurred on throughout the day by supporters on the festive picket line outside the Guardian’s HQ, Kings Place in King's Cross, London and messages of solidarity. Those in attendance included cartoonist Martin Rowson, former MP and NNUJ president Denis McShane, NUJ general secretary-elect Laura Davison, assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley, vice president Gerry Curran and senior organiser Andy Smith.
Davison said: "Guardian and Observer members have been making history with their strike action this week and last. There has been incredible solidarity on the picket lines as people have turned out in droves poetically, musically and visually to back our chapel's action. And what better way to mark the drawing to a close of four days of collective action than by singing together - songs of the season and of solidarity. It was a moving experience to be part of. Our members should be really proud of what they've achieved over the last two weeks; they have shown what it means to stand up for journalism and for trade unionism and sent a powerful message by their action. "
Yesterday [Thursday 12 December] politicians tabled an EDM about the sale of the Observer, under the motion: “This House expresses serious concerns about the speed of the process and the substantive issues at stake in relation to the proposed sale of the Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media; considers that The Observer, first published in 1791, is a historical national institution known as a source of quality journalism which must be protected for future generations; believes that the deal appears to be being rushed through, without due consideration of alternatives; regrets that the Guardian Media Group and the Scott Trust have not engaged in meaningful consultation with journalistic and editorial staff.”
It went on to say it “condemns the decision to announce in principle support for the sale during the first industrial action taken by members of the National Union of Journalists at the Guardian/Observer for over fifty years called in response to concerns at the deal; believes that the disappearance of Observer content behind an online paywall would be detrimental to the public interest by restricting access to accurate news and a plurality of opinions; and therefore calls on Government to issue a Public Interest Intervention Notice, to allow for further regulatory consideration of the sale’s likely impact.”
The EDM, the signatories of which include John McDonnell MP and Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, can be found here https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/62888
The National Union of Journalists and its members at the Guardian and Observer believe the plans agreed in principle by The Scott Trust are disastrous for the Observer, will damage the reputation of the Guardian and will seriously impact the working conditions for staff on both titles.
The strike action is backed by 93% of the journalists united in their concerns about how the sale has been handled by The Scott Trust and has the full support of the NUJ.
Cartoonist Martin Rowson
© Mark Thomas
© Mark Thomas
If you can’t support the strike in person you can follow and support it on social media via https://x.com/NUJofficial and Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nujofficial.bsky.social and with the Guardian and Observer NUJ chapel via the following platforms:-Bluesky @gonuj.org X @GoNUJ9 Instagram @gonuj93 TikTok @gonuj93
If you’d like to voice your opinion to the Guardian contact the readers editor at [email protected]
For more information on the action please visit the NUJ campaign page: https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/not-for-sale-save-the-observer.html