'Observer' staff in dispute over pay
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MARY BRAID
Observer journalists have gone into formal dispute with the newspaper's management, which they accuse of attempting to "derecognise the union by stealth".
A row broke out at the end of annual pay negotiations involving the editor, Andrew Jaspan, and the managing editor, Stephen Pritchard. Staff representatives were informed that a 3.82 per cent agreed rise would not apply to journalists who joined the paper recently under new contracts. In effect, 20 per cent of the journalists would no longer be covered by collective bargaining by the National Union of Journalists.
Last night journalists were predicting industrial action if Mr Jaspan and Peter Preston, the paper's editor-in-chief, did not reverse the decision. "No-one can believe what is being attempted. This is the Observer, great liberal newspaper and champion of human rights," said a staff member.
n The appointment of new editors at the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and Spectator continued to reverberate through senior ranks yesterday.
Media watchers predicted that Veronica Wadley, the Daily Telegraph's number two, who left after the appointment of Charles Moore as editor this week, would soon either emerge as deputy to her old boss, Max Hastings, at the London Evening Standard, or become number three on the Daily Mail.
Saturday Story, page 19
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments