THE Westmorland Gazette Lancaster & Morecambe Citizen is being published as

normal this week despite a walkout by members of the National Union of

Journalists.

A total of 24 journalists and a few ancillary staff based at Kendal, Lancaster and

Ulverston went ahead with a four-day strike in pursuit of a nine-and-a-half per cent

pay claim.

Talks between Newsquest Kendal/Lancaster and members of the NUJ have been

going on since before Christmas. During this time, the company has made a number

of attempts to try to resolve the issue, all of which have been rejected by the

journalists.

The journalists have now been offered a two-and-a-half per cent increase, with a

minimum monetary amount to help the least-well paid.

Editor/Publisher, Mike Glover, said: "The Westmorland Gazette has provided a

service to the people of South Lakeland and surrounding areas for 185 years - we

are not about to let that service be interrupted.

"We have repeatedly pointed out to the journalists that uncertainty over world,

national and local economies means this business has to maintain costs at a realistic

level. The other 70 staff at The Westmorland Gazette accepted this with good

grace."

February 18, 2003 16:30