‘Sun’ journalists consider offer

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 10

‘Sun’ journalists consider offer

NZPA-AP London Journalists at “The Sun,” Britain’s top-selling newspaper, were meeting today to decide whether to continue work at the publisher, Mr Rupert Murdoch’s new high-tech-nology plant, which is the target of protests by sacked production workers. In a bid to avert a

strike, Mr Murdoch’s News International company yesterday offered the 230 journalists a 10 per “cent annual pay rise, which would add £2400 ($6480) to their average pay of £24,000 ($67,500). The journalists voted on Monday against continuing to work at the automated printing plant in Wapping, east London, to

protest against Mr Murdoch’s previous offer of a 3.5 per cent pay rise. They were meeting today to discuss the new pay offer and the ballot result, which authorised industrial action. “The Sun” journalists were the first at Mr Murdoch’s four national newspapers to accept a £2OOO ($5400) annual pay rise .

I when Mr Murdoch moved his printing works in January out of Gray’s Inn Road near Fleet Street, Britain’s traditional newspaper row. Mr Murdoch fired more than 5000 production workers who struck rather than accept heavy staff cuts and a no-strike demanded for the move to Wapping.