STRIKES A GREAT SUCCESS...
...On Tuesday and Wednesday journalists fighting for a living wage picketed
every office of Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers northern division -
part of the Guardian Media Group.
...Three reporters in one office joined the union on the picket line and
refused to go to work. In all 27 journalists were on strike - compared to
16 who voted for action in the industrial action ballot.
...On Tuesday NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear and Guardian NUJ rep Helen
Oldfield addressed the strikers and their supporters outside the Rochdale
Observer building.


WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT...
... On the current pay scales trainee journalists start on as little as
£10,486 per annum. The maximum anyone below the rank of deputy editor can
earn is £17,692. Managers have offered 2.5 per cent, and de-recognised the
union on the day the ballot for action was announced. The workers asked for
a 7.5 percent rise.
...According to a story in the Guardian last month road sweepers in
Cambridge earn £15,500, while park rangers in Bolton are on £17,000. The
paper suggested these rates were too low.
...In the year to April 1 2001 Greater Manchester Newspapers - the division
of Guardian Media group involved in the dispute - made an after tax profit
of £12.4 million.

WHAT YOU CAN DO...
...On Monday April 22 the board of Guardian Media Regional meets in
Manchester. We will be leafleting outside the Manchester Evening News
building in Deansgate from 10am. Please join us and bring your union
banners.
...The next strikes are on Tuesday April 23 and Wednesday April 24. Feel
free to join our picket lines from 8am outside the Rochdale Observer,
Middleton Guardian, Salford Advertiser, Oldham Advertiser, Heywood
Advertiser, Rossendale Free Press and Accrington Observer.
...The union members urgently need money to sustain the action. Please urge
your union branch to hold a meeting and agree to make a donation to the
strike fund. Organise a whip round. Cheques should be made payable to "GMWN
NUJ Fund " and sent to 22 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JQ. Individual
donations are also welcome however small.
...Protest to the company about low pay and union derecognition. Please
email Guardian writer Hugo Young at  hugoyoung@compuserve.com and Guardian
editor Alan Rusbridger  alan.rusbridger@guardian.co.uk. They are both NUJ
members and on the board of the Scott Trust which runs the company. Model
letter attached.
...Send messages of support and congratulation to the chapel at
 badlypaid@hotmail.com
...Boycott Guardian Media's daily titles - the Guardian, Manchester Evening
News, and Reading Evening Post - on strike days.

THANKS...
...To everyone who supported the picket line and has sent money and
messages.

MORE INFO...
...Visit www.nuj.org.uk or the chapel's website at
 http://badlypaid.tripod.com/gmwn/index.html