#NUJReachStrike – Day 1

• 31 Aug 2022

Today's news from the picket lines....

Show your solidarity by tweeting at #NUJReachStrike

Journalists at Reach newspapers and websites are striking today after talks to resolve the dispute over pay broke down. More than 1150 journalists will take part in one of the most significant walkouts across the company’s titles including The Mirror, Express, Daily Record, Sunday Mail, Western Mail and Irish Star, the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, Bristol Post, Birmingham Mail, The Journal, South Wales Evening Post and the Live websites.  #NUJReachStrike on Flickr

There was a huge noise on social media at #NUJReachStrike and members got together for an online rally, with MPs John McDonald, Liz Saville Roberts, Chris Stephens and Kim Johnson. You can catch up with it here.  Passcode: N3+5EXy%

Quick links:

• Strike pictures
• Messages from strikers and picket lines
• Michelle Stanistreet's article in the Tribune

Pictures from the pickets

Messages from strikers and picket lines

Teach them young ❤️

Roman showing his support for #NUJReachStrike today 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/LR4onCobQz

— Catherine Murphy (@CathMurphy_) August 31, 2022

I’m very fortunate to do what I do but I worry that the industry is becoming an increasingly difficult one for all of us, especially those starting out. That’s why I believe there should be a fairer pay deal for all and why I joined the #NUJReachStrike today pic.twitter.com/HVJWRgP1r0

— Mark Jones (@Mark_Jones86) August 31, 2022

Couldn’t have said it better if I tried #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/eCJRuKw6jS

— Claire Harrison (@ClaireH_NN) August 31, 2022

Today I joined the #NUJReachStrike. I love my job and I love the industry. But more so, I love my colleagues and I believe there should be a fairer pay deal for all. pic.twitter.com/jzBDduCMTu

— Aaron Flanagan (@aaronflan) August 31, 2022

Today, scenes from the #NUJReachstrike on the picket line with @BristolLive journalists.

“WE DEMAND FAIR PAY, 3% NO WAY” pic.twitter.com/tezWkiHfje

— Priyanka Raval (@PriyRaval) August 31, 2022

Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone. #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/6YdRImSu8s

— Chris Mac (@chrismackop) August 31, 2022

Good to see @EmmaHardyMP and former @NUJofficial president @TimDawsn supporting striking journalists on the picket line in Hull this morning in the #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/SF3LCMkfgm

— Simon Bristow (@SimonBristow8) August 31, 2022

"On the picket line with @ChronicleNUJ this morning. Inflation is expected to rise to 15% next year, they have only been offered 3%. We need high quality regional journalism. These workers are Reach PLCs biggest asset: look after them" @MayorJD #EnoughlsEnough #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/vvpTBIHUy7

— Ken Richardson (@KenRichardson01) August 31, 2022

Proud of all we've achieved. #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/1xOplSFu3N

— Kit Vickery (@KitVickeryMEN) August 31, 2022

✊ Today I'm on strike with other @NUJofficial members because we can't afford the 3% pay rise on offer from Reach PLC.

We don't want to be on strike, we want our CEO to come to the negotiating table, find a resolution and give us a wage we can live on. #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/bJ3NYPBjTh

— Kate Knowles (@pennycenturyy) August 31, 2022

Striking today with my hardworking colleagues at Reach who deserve fair pay #NUJReachstrike @MirrorNUJ

— Geraldine McKelvie (@geraldine_mck) August 31, 2022

The @NUJofficial picket outside Reach’s Canary Wharf headquarters in London today. https://t.co/T8COsh2tcY

— ExpressNUJChapel (@ExpressNUJ) August 31, 2022

Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone. #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/6eNScHMWBH

— Branwen Jones (@BranwenJones) August 31, 2022

Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/OTKtC1lNzz

— Neil Docking (@LivEchoCourt) August 31, 2022

Terrific turnout for #NUJReachStrike. See you at the next one if Jim Mullen doesn’t get his act together and give people fair pay✊🏻❤️ #ReachPLC pic.twitter.com/RDxZk39rpX

— Sarah_Woolley (@Sarah_Woolley) August 31, 2022

I am joining my colleagues across ReachPLC today on strike.

I love my job. I love that every time I go home my Mum boasts about her daughter the journo - a British Muslim Pashtoon woman of colour a journalist?! Wow.

But I believe we all deserve a fairer deal. #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/uNTl7cPeKb

— mariam khan (@helloiammariam) August 31, 2022

My colleagues do great things and I’m proud of every one of them. They deserve to feel the value they create is recognised by their employer and rewarded with fair consolidated pay.
That’s the only way we hold on to these talented, passionate people.#NUJReachStrike #FairPayNow https://t.co/VUuQ5JlOYK

— Marcus Hughes (@Marcoosious) August 31, 2022

Today, I’m taking part in #NUJReachStrike like hundreds of my Reach colleagues across the U.K. and Ireland. This was always the last resort because we lose out on pay. Let’s hope the chief exec comes to his senses soon! Love and solidarity to those on the picket line today 💪🏼 https://t.co/sQhIUNpp0q

— Alahna (@Lalalahna) August 31, 2022

We're at the Leicester clock tower calling for better pay for Reach journalists.

Feel free to come and show your support! #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/Q1oILkmaVv

— NUJ Leicester Mercury Chapel (@NUJ_Leicester) August 31, 2022

Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/43IbWE58Oy

— John Jones (@johnrmjones) August 31, 2022

This is why I, colleagues in Dumfries and journalists across Scotland and the UK are taking part in #NUJReachStrike today #solidarity ✊https://t.co/QXNPHFvGhl

— Stuart Gillespie (@SMTID) August 31, 2022

Here with @MirrorNUJ and @NUJofficial members still going strong outside Reach HQ in Canary Wharf #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/GRvepMXvcO

— Benjamin Lynch (@ben_lynch99) August 31, 2022

I'm a fairly new @NUJofficial member, and never expected to be invovled in strike action. But everyone deserves to be paid fairly for their work, so I'm supporting colleagues today to help make that happen #NUJReachStrike

— Declan Carey (@DeclanGCarey) August 31, 2022

A huge thank you to everyone who showed their support for us today, including @MayorJD and our gorgeous strike dog Bonnie! #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/5DwB4wLWFQ

— Newcastle Chronicle and Journal NUJ Chapel (@ChronicleNUJ) August 31, 2022

I’m not able to be at a picket line today but I am taking part in the #NUJReachStrike - more on it below https://t.co/WkSxneZjMR

— Lorna Hughes (@lorna_hughes) August 31, 2022

A busy @NUJofficial picket line outside Media Wales in Cardiff as striking journalists tell Reach boss Jim Mullen they’ve had enough of poverty pay. #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/rBfr7RR8Nq

— David Nicholson (@davidnicholson2) August 31, 2022

And another message to Jim Mullen #nujreachstrike pic.twitter.com/oa9zIazEJO

— Paul Breeden (@PaulBreeden2) August 31, 2022

I wish I could be at the picket line to support my fellow journalists today, but I can't get there. So I'm showing my support and solidarity here #Solidarity #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/lRfo1X1ijV

— Lisa Varty (@LiV8419) August 31, 2022

Future journalist #BabiesOnPickets #NUJReachStrike ⁦@NUJofficial⁩ pic.twitter.com/zKmuMWqFny

— Sian Bethan Jones (@sianbethanjones) August 31, 2022

I can't be on the picket line today but I am taking part in the #NUJReachStrike in solidarity with my friends and colleagues who are together fighting for a fairer deal for everyone. @NUJofficial @Mersey_NUJ

— Gemma Jaleel (@gemmajaleel) August 31, 2022

Cousins on pickets #NUJReachStrike ⁦@MirrorNUJ⁩ ⁦@NUJofficial⁩ pic.twitter.com/Vukf51Ycxx

— Sian Bethan Jones (@sianbethanjones) August 31, 2022

So proud of my union and our members for standing together for #FairPayNow #CyflogTegNawr #NUJReachStrike

We are not backing down. Jim Mullen, you've really underestimated us.
Your staff deserve better from you.@NUJofficial pic.twitter.com/jjqbzK7qZG

— Natasha Hirst FRSA (@HirstPhotos) August 31, 2022

We love what we do. It is not easy to strike, to down tools and stop doing what we love. But it’s time to fight for a deal everybody can benefit from #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/HdMRXw3Vak

— Laura Hartley (@LauraHartley03) August 31, 2022

On the #NUJReachStrike today. I don’t want to be, none of us do. But excess profits are unpaid wages. #FairPay pic.twitter.com/crfz9rD6vk

— Daniel Jackson (@Danoogie) August 31, 2022

I may not be there in person today but everyone has my full support. Journalism is a job we’re all extremely passionate about, but today I, along with many of my colleagues, will not be working as we fight for a fairer deal for everyone #NUJReachstrike

— Aaliyah Rugg ❤ (@Aaliyahrugg1) August 31, 2022

Solidarity with all my @NUJofficial colleagues at the Mirror and across Reach today fighting for a fairer deal for everyone #NUJReachstrike https://t.co/0xJEo40XTA

— Lizzy Buchan (@LizzyBuchan) August 31, 2022

Joining lots of my @NUJofficial colleagues on strike today #NUJReachStrike

— Elizabeth Archer (@E_L_Archer) August 31, 2022

Our picket line at One Canada Square is growing. Here with @MirrorNUJ but stood in solidarity with the Express, the Star, non-journalists, @NUJofficial’s Michelle Stanistreet and @UniteInt. As Reach’s Chief Exec is intent on denying journalist's a fair pay deal #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/14e9tlsl6E

— Rachel Hagan (@rachelhagan_) August 31, 2022

Solidarity with my @MirrorNUJ colleagues on the #NUJReachStrike picket lines up and down the country today. We're asking for a better deal to cope with the cost of living crisis, and to future-proof our industry by ensuring junior staff are paid fairly.

— Emmeline Saunders (@Emm_Saunders) August 31, 2022

It’s got a crack in it! Only holds 3% #NUJReachStrike @MirrorNUJ @NUJofficial pic.twitter.com/TP9qFlybPC

— Greg Livsey (@GregLivsey) August 31, 2022

This is the picket at the @MENnewsdesk office in Chadderton this morning. We are asking for a fair pay deal for our journalists 💪 #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/IR0KPRjeEb

— MEN Chapel (@MEN_chapel) August 31, 2022

This was the room in a London hotel where NUJ and Reach PLC officials negotiated for two days over the bank holiday weekend.

But who wasn’t there and refused to offer any improvement on a pay increase of 3% / £750? Reach PLC CEO Jim Mullen. #NUJReachStrike pic.twitter.com/bcMcgrOHfk

— NUJ Humber Reach Chapel (@NUJHumberReach) August 31, 2022

Myself and hundreds of other @NUJofficial members at Reach PLC are on strike today for the appalling 3% payrise offer. I know exactly how successful our website is right now, Jim Mullen, pay us fairly. #NUJReachStrike https://t.co/I7rb6qMacS

— Rebecca Miller (@RMMJourno) August 31, 2022

Solidarity with my colleagues and friends today on the #NUJReachStrike 🫡✊🏻 Nobody strikes on a whim, we just want fair pay for hard work at a time when it’s most needed.

— Mark Frances (@markfrances) August 31, 2022

“You shouldn’t be expected to report on the cost of living crisis and have to be using a foodbank yourself.”

Today, myself and colleagues shall be striking over the lack of a fair pay deal.

Everyone deserves a wage they can live on. #NUJReachStrikehttps://t.co/9DLaaae8lv

— Stace Williams 🇺🇦 (@stackee) August 31, 2022

Please support @NUJofficial journalists striking today. We deserve to be able to heat our homes and pay our bills #NUJReachstrike

— Flora Byatt (@FloraByattSOT) August 31, 2022

This is our #JournoRequest to all @NUJofficial members working from home during the #NUJReachStrike today - and our #PRRequest as well! No matter where we are today across the country we stand shoulder to shoulder with each other.

Let's tell Reach plc #EnoughlsEnough pic.twitter.com/oG8V9ezl3G

— Mirror NUJ Chapel (@MirrorNUJ) August 31, 2022

I made some Welsh language placards for this morning, can’t wait to see them in action!

See you at 8:30 outside Media Wales on Park Street ✨#NUJReachStrike #CyflogTegNawr #FairPayNow

— polly (@shwmaepolly) August 31, 2022

Tribune article

Read Michelle Stanistreet in the Tribune: Fair Pay Is Within Reach

Reach is a business that believes its hard-working journalists deserve a whopping real-terms pay cut, and refuses to come to an agreement on pay that will ensure our members can keep themselves and their families afloat this winter. It’s shameful that a media company that positions itself as a voice for communities, with many titles that claim to be an ally of working people, would choose to treat its own staff so shabbily.

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• Industrial
• Reach
• Reach Group Chapel
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• picket lines
• Michelle Stanistreet
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