NUJ'S TOON ARMY ON THE MARCH...
...NUJ members at the Trinity Mirror-owned Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
have rejected a slightly improved pay offer and will strike on Thursday July
25 and Thursday August 1.
...The new proposals leave most NUJ members receiving just 2 percent.
Trainees will start on £12,250 per year - compared to a reported average
graduate starting salary of £19,000.
...The minimum rate for journalists with all their professional
qualifications, working on some of the UK's most prestigious regional titles
is £17,500 - less than £10 a week more than a McDonalds trainee manager on
their first day.
...Chronicle and Journal boss Steve Brown told a chapel meeting that Trinity
Mirror's profit margin - 25 percent of turnover - is not high enough. After
his speech only four NUJ members voted against strike action.
...Supporters are asked to visit the picket line between 6am and 7pm at the
Groat Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
...The strikers will need money. Please urge your chapel or branch to hold a
meeting and send a donation. You could organise a whip round in the
workplace. Please make donations payable to Newcastle NUJ Branch and send
them to 11 Trinity Courtyard, Newcastle, NE6 1TS. Individual donations are
also welcome.
...Messages of support can be a huge morale booster. Please take a few
seconds to email your support to the chapel on  geomacstg@onyxnet.co.uk
...Feel free to send these details on to friends in the NUJ and wider labour
movement.