NUJ members at the Guardian Media-owned Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers
(North) are to strike for the next two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) over low
pay and union recognition.
...On the current pay scales trainee journalists at the company start on as
little as £10,486 per annum. The maximum anyone below the rank of deputy
editor can earn is £17,692.
...According to a story published last month in the Guardian, road sweepers
in Cambridge earn £15,500 while park rangers in Bolton are on £17,000. The
Greater Manchester Weekly journalists asked for a 7.5 percent rise to help
catch up with other industries. Management offered 2.5 percent.
...In the year to April 1 2001 Greater Manchester Newspapers - the division
of Guardian Media involved - made an after tax profit of £12.4 million.
...The company have now offered some particularly low paid journalists rises
of more than 10 percent.

NOT SO LIBERAL...
...In a secret ballot 100 percent of NUJ members who took part voted for a
strike over low pay. On the day the result was declared the management of
Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers (North) announced that they were
de-recognising the NUJ - refusing to negotiate on pay and conditions.
...It is the first time Guardian Media has ever de-recognised an NUJ chapel.
The firm's flagship papers - the Guardian and Observer - regularly criticise
bullying employers.
...Guardian Media is owned by the Scott Trust. One of the trustees is
Guardian editor Alan Rusbriger. Please support the Greater Manchester Weekly
Newspapers workers by emailing him at  alan.rusbriger@guardian.co.uk or
faxing him at 0207 837 4530. A model letter is attached. >

WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW YOU CAN HELP...
...Strikes are happening tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday April 16 and 17.
There will be picket lines outside the offices of the Rochdale Observer in
Drake Street, Middleton Guardian, Heywood Advertiser, Rossendale Free Press,
Accrington Observer, Oldham Advertiser, and Salford Advertiser. Please join
the picket line and bring your banners.
...There is a demonstration outside the Guardian on Farringdon Road in
London between noon and 2pm on Tuesday April 16.
...Messages of support can be sent to the chapel (workplace branch) at
 badlypaid@hotmail.com .
...The chapel needs money. Please urge your union branch or political party
to hold a meeting and agree to make a donation to the strike fund. Organise
a whip round in your workplace. Cheques should be made payable to "GMWN NUJ
Fund " and sent to 22 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JQ. Individual donations
are also welcome however small.
...Please forward this email to other trade unionists and Guardian readers.

BOYCOTT THE BULLIES...
...Show Guardian Media that their readers are opposed to macho management
and low pay. The chapel would like you to boycott the company's daily titles
- the Guardian, Manchester Evening News, and Reading Evening Post - on
strike days.
...If you can hand out leaflets at meetings, in shopping centres, or in your
workplace calling for support for the boycott please hit reply and tell us
how many leaflets you would like.

MORE NEWS...
...The latest NUJ news is at www.nuj.org.uk The striking chapel's website is
at  http://badlypaid.tripod.com/gmwn/index.html