Reuters news agency staff vote to strike

Journalists at Thomson Reuters have voted to strike over a below-inflation pay offer, the first industrial action at the news agency in more than 25 years.

The National Union of Journalists said in a statement that its members at the company voted "overwhelmingly" for a 48-hour walkout next week, coinciding with the release of Thomson Reuters' full-year financial results.

Unions have been unable to reach a settlement with management over the below-inflation pay offer of 1.75%. The NUJ said that many Thomson Reuters journalists are struggling to cope with the cost of living in London.

"Thomson Reuters must shoulder the responsibility for this dispute," said NUJ chapel officers Mike Roddy and Helen Long.

"The company ignored repeated warnings that members had reached a tipping point, after years of below inflation pay rises, combined with rising costs, that are pricing many members out of their jobs.

"Those with families who cannot afford to live in London are especially feeling the pain as they are forced to commute into the capital on the most expensive train lines in Europe. We hope management will now listen to its journalists and return to the table with a sensible offer to avert a costly strike."

A ballot for industrial action saw 83% of NUJ members at Thomson Reuters vote in favour of the strike, which is scheduled to begin at midnight on February 9 and last for 48 hours.

The NUJ also said that Thomson Reuters was "under fire" over its treatment of cleaning staff at its Canary Wharf premises. Campaigners have claimed that workers face "intimidation from the cleaning contractor Lancaster/Initial".

NUJ deputy general secretary Barry Fitzpatrick said: "This strike is about fairness. The management is proposing a below-inflation pay deal, while holding back money for a merit scheme. This is just not on.

"While our members struggle to make ends meet on their wages, the management should be putting all the money into an across the board pay increase."

NUJ members at the news agency last threatened to strike in 2008 and 2009 over jobs cuts following the merger of Reuters and Thomson.

Reuters News editor-in-chief Stephen Adler confirmed that around 150 staff members intend to go on strike for 48 hours next week.

"We regret to hear this and have put in place contingency plans to ensure that Reuters continues to deliver the quality journalism that our customers rely on during this period," he said.

"We respect the right of our colleagues to engage in this job action as part of the bargaining process and look forward to welcoming them back to work on their next work day."