NSW State Secretary of the AMWU, Tim Ayres, said today that the Union’s members stand in solidarity with the 69 Fairfax workers who will be sacked in the company’s latest round of callous cost-cutting measures.
The job cuts, announced yesterday, will cripple the newsrooms of several large and vital regional papers, including the Newcastle Herald and the Maitland Mercury.
Mr Ayres said that the cuts were cruel and unnecessary, and would only serve to further weaken regions with already high unemployment rates.
“We know that manufacturing job losses have already pushed unemployment figures across the Hunter and Newcastle regions to record highs,” he said.
“This move from Fairfax shows just how little the company cares for its workers, their families and their communities.
“What we’re seeing is another case of big bosses caring only about the bottom line, and not about people or livelihoods. It really matters that regional communities have a well resourced local news service – it sustains communities and builds social capital. The Newcastle Herald is an excellent paper that covers local stories fairly and intelligently, and they deserve our support.”
“Our members across these regions and across the country stand in solidarity with the Fairfax workers.”
Media contact: Donherra Walmsley – 0431 332 393