Why we are striking

Newsquest, the American-owned company which runs The Argus, is proposing to move the paper's sub-editing operation to Southampton.

This follows years of cuts, which have seen the loss of more than 100 jobs at The Argus and the closure of its printing press.

We believe a local paper can only be properly produced by local journalists - who know the difference between Patcham and Patching, and where Brighton ends and Hove begins.

Sub-editors are experienced journalists responsible for laying out and designing pages, creating headlines and identifying and correcting mistakes before the paper goes to print.

It's hard to put a price on their local knowledge and skills, but Newsquest seems happy to throw them away in the name of short-term cost savings.

This is why NUJ members based at The Argus are striking - to highlight the needless damage being inflicted on YOUR newspaper.

Last year Newsquest's top executive awarded himself a 21 per cent pay increase.

And the chief financial officer of parent company Gannett recently boasted: "Newsquest makes a lot of money."

Despite this jobs continue to be cut at The Argus, where staff  have suffered a pay freeze for more than 1,000 days.

NUJ members will be on strike this Thursday, November 18, and Friday, November 19.

Please show your support and find out more at www.brightonargus.blogspot.com