Journalists strike over proposed sale of Observer to Tortoise Media
Forty-eight-hour
strike, first at Guardian in more than 50 years, to take place on Wednesday and
Thursday
Guardian
staff
Wed 4 Dec
2024 00.01 GMT
Journalists
at the Guardian and the Observer are holding a 48-hour strike in protest at the
proposed sale of the Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media.
The strike,
the first at the Guardian in more than 50 years, is due to take place on
Wednesday 4 December and Thursday 5 December.
Tortoise is
run by James Harding, the former editor of the Times and former director of BBC
News. It has put forward plans to continue publishing the Observer on a Sunday
and build the title’s digital presence. It would combine the Observer with
Tortoise’s podcasts, newsletters and live events. News of Tortoise’s approach
for the Observer emerged in September.
A Guardian
spokesperson said: “We recognise the strength of feeling about the proposed
sale of the Observer and appreciate that NUJ members wish to make their views
heard. While we respect the right to strike, we do not believe a strike is the
best course of action in this case and our talks with the NUJ continue.
“We have a
plan in place to minimise the impact of strike action on staff, readers and
subscribers and we will continue to publish online and produce the print
edition as usual.”
National
Union of Journalists members passed a motion last month stating that selling
the Sunday newspaper to Tortoise would be a “betrayal” of the Scott Trust’s
commitment to the Observer. The trust is the ultimate owner of Guardian Media
Group.
If the
transaction proceeds, Observer staff have been told they can opt to take
voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms or that if they transfer to Tortoise
that their existing terms and conditions will be honoured. Harding has said
that the sale offers the chance to invest in and extend the Observer’s legacy.
Ole Jacob
Sunde, the chair of the Scott Trust, said in an email to staff: “Throughout the
process our goal has always been to do what is right for Guardian and Observer
readers and staff so that both titles continue to promote liberal journalism
and thrive long into the future. This has been at the forefront of our
discussions as a board.”
He said the
Scott Trust would stay on as a part-owner of the Observer in the proposed deal,
and that any new owners would have to embody the values of editorial
independence, press freedom and liberal journalism that had been part of the
Observer’s ethos since Guardian Media Group bought it in 1993.
Sunde added:
“I fully respect people’s rights to take industrial action. I also think it’s
right that we share relevant information in a timely manner. I am confident
that this has been – and continues to be – a detailed and thoughtful process.”
The strike
means that readers may notice some differences to the Guardian’s website on
Wednesday and Thursday and in the print edition on Thursday and Friday.
Due to
deadlines, some of the stories that appear on the website and in the newspaper
on those days will not have been written on the day in question. In other
cases, anonymous bylines may be used. Guardian US and Guardian Australia staff
are not part of the strike action.
The union
said the strike coincided with the Observer – the world’s oldest Sunday
newspaper – marking 233 years since it first began publication.
The NUJ
general secretary-elect, Laura Davison, said: “Guardian and Observer members
have the full backing of the NUJ as they undertake this significant industrial
action – the first for over 50 years.
She added:
“The massive vote to take this step shows journalists’ desire to publicly
highlight to readers and those in charge their collective concerns about the
future of the title. The Observer holds a unique and important place in public
life and our members care about the next chapter in its history.”
The ballot for strike action last month showed that of those eligible to participate, 75% cast a vote, with 93% supporting indust
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