National Union of Journalists

National Union of Journalists 1907 -

Not with standing the Wapping dispute in 1986/7, which we hope to illustrate in a future newsletter, the NUJ were involved in a number of disputes not least the 1989 Pergamon Press, and the Morning Star dispute in 1998.

In 1989 Journalists working for Robert Maxwells Pergamon Press tried to organise with the NUJ journalists. The company rejected recognition of the Union claiming that it only represented a small number of workers at the company, the NUJ already represented 60% of the Journalists working there. In response to the company refusing recognition the Journalists held a legal one-day strike.

Former Labour MP and selfdeclared “Socialist” Maxwell called the Journalists lemmings and sacked 23 of them. The sacked members picketed the workplace for three years Maxwell offered the 23 £3500 each as a payoff, this was rejected, and they continued the picket.

In 1991 Maxwell sold Pergamon Press to a Dutch company but they also refused to take the 23 back, even after pressure from the Dutch Trade Unions. general Secretary of the Communists Party, the party, linked to the Morning Star, Rosser’s son in law Paul Corry was deputy and news editor at the Star.

In !998 Haylett was suspended for alleged gross misconduct, charges not put to him to defend and not within the agreed disciplinary policy agreed with the NUJ Chapel.

The dispute was settled in 1992 and a plaque was placed near the Pergamon workplace which says “At this site, between May 1989 and September 1992 23 members of the NUJ mounted a continuous and united picket in defence of Trade Union rights at Maxwells Pergamon Press, “His Empire collapsed, the Union lives on”

To mark the 10th Anniversary of the strike a party was held in a function room at Headington Hill Hall, which was the living room of Maxwells former house.

And in 1998 the NUJ went on strike for 6 weeks at the Morning Star.

John Haylett had been appointed editor of the paper in 1995 but was opposed by the Peoples Press Printing Society (PPPS) chief executive Mary Rosser, the wife of former The members of the chapel voted for indefinite strike action, and produced their own newspaper “Workers Morning Star”

After 6 weeks and with ACAS involvement, Haylett was reinstated, and the Management Committee was replaced.