In the midst of an on going battle with NUJ over staff pay, Newsquest has docked the wages of staff who attended a mandatory 10-minute union meeting.
Newsquest has been in a long running row over pay with the NUJ after the media group froze pay for 2012, exasperated by the fact staff at The Northern Echo, owned by Newsquest, received a 2 per cent increase earlier this year where other papers were told that there was no money for a pay rise.
However today, 7 November, staff at The Press, also owned by Newsquest, walked out after they were informed that a day’s wages would be docked from each journalist who attended a mandatory union meeting which lasted only 10 minutes.
The NUJ organised the meeting to take place every day this week at 10am to discuss the continuing industrial action.
Mark Stead and Tony Kelly, NUJ officials at The Press, said: "We are in the midst of legally-balloted industrial action, so to penalise our members for a 10-minute meeting is against all concepts of fairness.
"Our members attended today's meeting in the full knowledge that they faced losing a day's pay, once again demonstrating their commitment to our cause, but remain angry and disappointed at the continuing intransigence of Newsquest management.
"We are not asking for the moon. We are simply asking for a fair pay rise."