London newsroom strike threat lifted

Worldwide, some 140 editorial jobs are being scrapped as part of the process of merging the Thomson and Reuters editorial operations.

The newly merged company had originally refused to rule out compulsory job cuts. National Union of Journalists members called for a ballot on industrial action.

The NUJ said the company has agreed to share with the union the results of quarterly reviews of staffing levels. The union said it believes this offers “a valuable opportunity to monitor the impact of the merger on editorial standards”.

“Months of hard work by the chapel officials has finally removed the threat of compulsory redundancy,” NUJ national organiser Barry Fitzpatrick said. “We can now concentrate on the real task of working with the new company to achieve editorial excellence.”

A Thomson Reuters spokeswoman, speaking to The Guardian, could not rule out compulsory redundancies outside the UK. Talks between staff and management continue at other European bureaux.

The job reduction exercise will leave Reuters News with around 2,500 staff by the end of this year. Up to 700 posts in sales and technical support are also to be eliminated as part of the integration. ■