Fort agrees to recognition for Amicus

"Cordial and amiable" negotiations at the Fort, the print production and distribution site for the Trinity Mirror Newspaper Group in Birmingham, have resulted in an agreement by the company to formally recognise manufacturing union Amicus.

The union had been campaigning for recognition for several years, but earlier efforts had foundered owing to low membership levels among the staff. But a renewed recruitment drive led by organiser Alison Jones led to a rapid increase in members, at which point the company agreed to talks.

Branch officer Ted Scott, who was involved in the recruitment drive, said Fort had been "very constructive" in its approach, adding: "I look forward to a good working relationship."

The recognition agreement gives collective bargaining rights to 95 production staff and 24 electricians and engineers.

Amicus national officer Steve Sibbald said the union would "keep ploughing on until the whole [newspaper] industry is once again organised".