Media
[ch 1: page 12]A survey of journalists working for the Newsquest media group in south London found that many were suffering from high workloads, struggling with a new production system and poor communication from the company’s senior management. Staff were also living in fear of losing their jobs because of the company’s many redundancy rounds. The survey carried out by the NUJ journalists’ union found 88% often or always worked intensively, 36% said they had unachievable deadlines, more than half (52%) did not have supportive feedback on their work, 56% did not have sufficient breaks and 88% said they were not consulted about changes at work.
The NUJ then balloted their members over inadequate staffing levels, excessive workloads, reduced quality of newspapers, the health and safety of employees, and pay rates and almost three quarters (71%) voted in favour of strike action and 81% backed action short of a strike. The ballot result, in September 2016, came days after the company announced plans to put nearly all the newsroom staff at risk of redundancy.