GANNETT NEWSQUEST LANCASHIRE AND THE INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE AT THE BURY TIMES AND BOLTON EVENING NEWS

Early day motion 1050, tabled 9 April 2003 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House notes that Gannett, the US parent company of Newsquest Lancashire, recently announced global profits for 2002 of 1.1 billion dollars; further notes that Newsquest Lancashire has announced pre-tax profits for 2001 of £5.3 million, including a reduction in staffing costs of £507,000; regrets that starting salaries for graduate trainee journalists at the Bury Times and Bolton Evening News range from only £10,800 to £12,000 and for senior journalists from £14,000 to £15,390; believes that these are among the lowest in the United Kingdom; and calls on the management of Newsquest Lancashire to engage in constructive dialogue and further negotiations with the National Union of Journalists to achieve an improvement on the current 2 per cent. pay offer.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 1.