Support the strike at the Independent and Independent on Sunday

At a packed meeting on Wednesday (12 June), editorial staff on The Independent and Independent on Sunday voted by 109 to 40 to throw out a pay offer and take industrial action. We decided to start our strike campaign with a disruptive mandatory meeting of the chapel from 10am on Thursday (20 June), unless management meet our demands.

The NUJ held a postal ballot in which 60 per cent of members voted for a strike in opposition to a pay freeze. At the meeting, the chapel opted for action by an increased majority.

Our claim hopes to secure a pay rise substantially above inflation for all staff, casuals and freelances. We have also offered an alternative proposal which demands improved rates on shifts and lineage. Under our recognition deal, we have negotiating rights for staff and casuals only. But we feel it is vital that we represent all staff and so continue to insist on the right to represent all freelances. Meanwhile, we have shown our commitment to freelances by appointing a freelance rep on the chapel committee. We also held a special chapel meeting for freelances on the issue of copyright earlier last year, which was well attended.

Please show solidarity with our strike by refusing any work offered to you either in the office or for filing on Thursday. If you are already booked to work in the office next week, we ask that you take part in our action. The chapel will be asked to agree to pay strike pay to any freelances who lose out from giving their support.

Finally, let everyone know what's happening at the newspapers. If you want to make a donation to our strike fund or send a message of support for us to read out at the meeting, please contact Tim Sanders, freelance rep, on 020-7791 1384 or santim57@hotmail.com

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES ON OUR STRIKE

Kate Simon
Mother of Chapel

• Please send public messages of support, to be posted here, to support@independentpaupers.org