Fed: We've been betrayed, say Fairfax staff

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2007
Fed: We've been betrayed, say Fairfax staff

SYDNEY, April 27 AAP - Staff at Fairfax newspapers in Sydney say they have been betrayed
by management and have moved a motion of no confidence in chief executive David Kirk.

Mr Kirk yesterday announced that up to 35 jobs will be cut as the company merges production
staff of The Sydney Morning Herald and its Sunday newspaper, The Sun-Herald.

While sub-editors and graphic designers will be axed, reporters and photographers have
been excluded from the job cuts.

Members of the journalists' union, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, have
reacted angrily and demanded management reverse the decision.

They also disputed Fairfax's claim that the move, which will also include a reduction
in the width of the SMH and its Melbourne sister paper The Age, will achieve greater efficiencies.

"This is a continued betrayal of staff goodwill in the name of profit," said Alliance
federal secretary Christopher Warren.

"The quality of the product is already suffering as a result of two previous rounds
of redundancies, which stripped more than 100 journalists and other staff from the paper.

"Further eroding the base of experienced and committed staff can only undermine the
quality of output, confidence of staff in management, and will ultimately affect the bottom
line."

Union members passed the no confidence motion following yesterday's announcement.

They also accused the company of obstructing the proposed integration of digital and
print operations through a silo mentality.

Mr Kirk yesterday said SMH and Sun-Herald editors would work alongside their online
counterparts with a focus on providing content in print, on the internet and mobile phones.

The union is continuing its negotiations with Fairfax management, while staff will
meet again next week.

AAP pmu/was/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: FAIRFAX

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