Greater Manchester dispute is settled

The deal

The strike at Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers (North) - part of Guardian Media - is over. Here are the details of the settlement.

The new starting rate for trainees is £13,060 - a rise of 24.5 per cent on the previous minimum, and a rise of more than 8 per cent on the previous rate for graduates with pre-entry qualifications.

Trainees in their second year will receive £14,255 - a rise of at least 5 per cent.

Trainees will also receive a one-off payment of £280.

Seniors in Oldham and Salford will receive parity with the rest of the group - a rise of 10.3 per cent - plus a one-off payment of £350.

Seniors in the rest of the group will receive a rise of 2.5 per cent plus the one off payment of £350.

A new senior grade will be introduced taking the maximum wage for people below the rank of deputy editor to over £19,000 - a rise on the maximum of 7.4 per cent.

The payments will be backdated to January 1 - even in Oldham and Salford where the previous pay date was April 1.

A re-grading exercise will take place with any rises implemented by October 1.

Meal allowances will rise by five per cent.

The company have promised a one-off payment of £200 next year on top of any negotiated pay rise.

Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers (South) - papers in Stockport, Tameside, Macclesfield etc - will receive parity with the northern group. That means a rise of at least 10.3 per cent plus the one-off payments backdated to April 1.

The NUJ - which was de-recognised during the dispute - has been recognised again.

Well done...

The 29 strikers have been magnificent. Send congratulations to badlypaid@hotmail.com

Thanks to everyone who sent money, messages of support, took part in demos and lobbied Guardian Media.

Miles Barter
Northern Regional Organiser