NUJ PR and communications solidarity with Reach dispute
All NUJ members working in PR and communications are being asked NOT to engage with Reach titles on strike days.
Wednesday 31 August is the first day of the Reach strike and we’re encouraging all NUJ members working in press offices, communications and campaign teams to NOT engage with Reach titles. This is in solidarity with NUJ members taking strike action across Reach.Reach titles include national newspapers the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Sunday People, Daily Record, Daily Star and Sunday Mirror. Regional titles include the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, Birmingham Mail and Bristol Post.
NUJ members at Reach are striking for a fair pay rise after receiving an insulting 3 per cent or £750 offer. This is against a backdrop of an astronomical £4 million pay package for Reach chief executive Jim Mullen and a £22m shareholder pay out last year. Journalists across Reach are the company’s main asset and must be recognised as such.It was Mullen who stalled the strike talks by blocking any increase to the pay deal.
Reach titles provide amazing coverage for many news stories and features. But in solidarity with fellow NUJ members, we’re urging members in press office, PR, communications, campaigns and similar roles NOT to engage with Reach titles on strike days: three days have been planned for September.
Please don’t contact Reach outlets with stories on strike days and we encourage any approach received from Reach on those days to be shut down in solidarity with our NUJ members across the Reach group.
Sian Jones, NUJ NEC (PR seat)
