Lancashire Telegraph employees stage protest against staff relocation to Newport

Lancashire Telegraph workers and other members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) held a picket line from 7.45am outside their Blackburn offices on 25th June to raise public awareness of Newsquest's plans to relocate 25 sub-editors to Newport and the response from the public was very positive.

At 12.30pm, following a pizza dinner courtesy of Shuaib Khan, they marched through the town centre to Blackburn Town Hall, where we were greeted by Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Kate Hollern, who was also very supportive. She spoke to members and north west NUJ rep Chris Morley about her dismay at the Newport move.

There was a very strong turnout of members and there were also visits on the picket line from the NUJ vice president, local reps from Unison, UCU (University and Colleges Union), Blackburn with Darwen councillors and Hyndburn Councillor Clare Cleary, as well as the famous ex-Telegraph Harold Heys.