Journalists in Bristol go on strike in dispute over pay

Journalists at Bristol Live and the Bristol Post are staging a walk-out today (August 31) in a row with their employer Reach over pay.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members have joined a picket line outside the company’s new offices in Baldwin Street as part of a national pay dispute alongside colleagues at other Reach-owned titles.

The dispute centres on an increase in pay. This year, after giving staff a 1% pay rise in 2021, Reach offered a 3% rise - but the NUJ has rejected this, calling for a 8.5% increase.

The first walk-out was due to take place on Friday, but was called off after Reach agreed to enter negotiations. However, the union said no fresh offer was made on the 3% pay rise.

As a result, NUJ representatives voted unanimously to pass a motion of no confidence in Reach’s chief executive Jim Mullen. They have also voted to extend a work-to-rule period indefinitely.

Today’s strike action will be followed by days on September 13, 14 and 15. Staff working for Reach in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset are taking part.

NUJ Bristol branch treasurer Paul Breeden said: “Journalists are required by the company to live in the communities they report on, but with such low wages being paid to young reporters, they struggle to find anywhere in Bristol they can afford.

“Then, to complete the gaslighting, the Reach management make reporters write about their own struggles with the housing crisis in Bristol and the West Country, oblivious to the bitter irony.”

The NUJ say a total of 14 journalists have left the Bristol team alone since the start of 2022 - more than half Bristol’s editorial staff.

Reach has responded with a statement. It said continguency plans were in place to keep disruption to its titles to a minimum.

It said: “We greatly value our journalists and are disappointed that, despite our best efforts during the negotiation process and successful agreements with Unite and the BAJ, we have been unable to reach an agreement with the NUJ.

“Whilst this is not the outcome we would have wished for, we remain focused on protecting the interests of all our colleagues, ensuring the group has a sustainable future in the face of an uncertain economic backdrop.”