Journalists' union stands up for safety at media conglomerate

Job cuts at the Newsquest media group in Scotland have led to serious health and safety concerns and must be stopped, the NUJ journalists' union has warned.

Since acquiring the Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times newspapers in 2003, Newsquest - the British arm of US-owned media giant Gannett - has repeatedly demanded job cuts and ripped up union agreements.

The NUJ and the Scottish TUC have launched a petition condemning the changes, which could have "major implications for health and safety of the reporters" by putting increasingly overstretched and under-resourced journalists at risk from such hazards as stress and repetitive strain injury.

To sign the online petition, go to www.ipetitions.com/petition/heraldandtimes