Journalists poised to strike

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 8

Journalists poised to strike

Journalists throughout the country have rejected an offer from their employers to settle their award, the New Zealand Journalists’ Union national secretary, Mr Tony Wilton, said last evening. The union covers all daily newspaper journalists outside Auckland province. The Northern Jgjirnalists’ Union has also rejected the offer. Talks had been adjourned at the New Zea-

land union’s request last Friday after an offer by employers of an 8.5 per cent wage rise. Mr Wilton said the national council of the union had met yesterday. Rolling stoppages had been discussed. The union will meet employers before such stoppages go ahead. The executive director of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association, Mr Patrick Greene, said he had no comment to make until he had met the

union representative. The union is seeking a 10 per cent wage increase, and also wants to extend union coverage to certain journalists who are now exempt from membership.

The union wants numbers of such journalists reduced to three in metropolitan papers. Employers have offered to drop numbers from nine to seven, under certain conditions. Mr Wilton said he would be in Auckland

today and would talk to employers about the rejection of the offer.

Employers have also offered a 6 per cent pay increase to journalists for using computer technology plus an extra 3 per cent to sub-editors, and a $5O a week night-travel allowance.

The union seeks a $6O a week night-travel allowance, higher allowances for using new technology, and productivity payments.