Walkout over Murdoch sackings

Wednesday, April 17, 1991 - 10:00

Walkout over Murdoch sackings

By Andrew Bath

and Jolyon Campbell

MELBOURNE — Journalists with Murdoch's Herald-Sun and Sunday Herald-Sun walked off the job on April 11, following the sacking of Australian Journalists Association house committee president David Glanz and 20 other AJA members.

The sackings follow a series of "voluntary redundancies" and together with the resignation of Peter Mayer, Sunday Sun chief of staff, bring the number of union jobs lost to 71. Mayer resigned in disgust over management's handling of redundancies and its attacks on the AJA, describing the company's actions as involving "fear, intimidation and thuggery".

A picket by AJA members and supporters was established and brought printing and circulation of the Herald-Sun to a near standstill. Scabs were able to enter the building only after manoeuvring by management and police, and papers were prevented from leaving the site.

The success of the campaign will depend upon continuing support from the printers' union and other related unions around the country.

From GLW issue 8