The latest update to the MEN Media / National Union of Journalists negotiations, is given in a joint statement from MEN Media / NUJ.

• “The Company has agreed to the introduction of a new pay grade for journalists previously working solely on weekly titles. This new grade will take effect in 2010.” (More details will be given to Journalism.co.uk in due course, a spokesperson said.)
• “The NUJ has declared its recent ballots for industrial action to be null and void.”
• “11 journalists from the MEN will be made redundant by compulsory means. This is a reduction of five from earlier proposals. The total number of editorial redundancies across MEN Media is 70.”
• “Talks will start immediately on a new house agreement to encompass all three NUJ chapels.”
• “The agreement means that all MEN Media journalists will be based in Scott Place, Manchester by early October 2009.”

MEN NUJ mother-of-chapel, Judy Gordon, told Journalism.co.uk:

“Our chapel is pleased to have saved five jobs under threat at the MEN, but bitterly disappointed that 11 of our journalists will still be made compulsorily redundant, along with 18 volunteers, five other editorial compulsories and 35 colleagues from the weeklies who have opted to go. It’s going to be hard to pick up the pieces of these massive changes, but we are determined to do the best we can for those  who are leaving, those who remain and those weekly staff who will be joining us at Deansgate in the future. We have great faith in our journalism and believe the Greater Manchester public does too.”

Statement in full:

“MEN Media Limited and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have reached agreement on the re-structure of MEN Media’s newspapers in the North West.

The Company has agreed to the introduction of a new pay grade for journalists previously working solely on weekly titles. This new grade will
take effect in 2010.

The NUJ has declared its recent ballots for industrial action to be null
and void.

Unfortunately, 11 journalists from the MEN will be made redundant by compulsory means. This is a reduction of five from earlier proposals. The total number of editorial redundancies across MEN Media is 70. These redundancies will take place later this year.

Talks will start immediately on a new house agreement to encompass all three NUJ chapels.

The agreement means that all MEN Media journalists will be based in Scott Place, Manchester by early October 2009.

Both MEN Media and the NUJ record their intention to work together to ensure the editorial re-structure is successful and that this agreement,
reached after a great deal of negotiation, should become a landmark in their future relationship.

They also record their commitment to the newspapers they produce and the communities, readers and advertisers they serve.”