Resistance grows to Sweet and Maxwell redundancy threat

Monday, 24 January 2011

Employees at the major legal publisher Sweet and Maxwell are consulting unions to defend jobs against management redundancy plans at its offices in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, and London.

West Yorkshire editorial workers from the company will meet with NUJ organiser Chris Morley this week to consider how to respond with union help to redundancy plans. They'll be joined by officials from the UK's biggest union, Unite, who will be advising other employees of the company.

"While the company refuses to allow union members to publicise union meetings or opportunities to join the NUJ on business premises," said Chris Morley, "it has stated that it does recognise the democratic right of employees to belong to a trade union. So I hope that all Sweet and Maxwell employees will feel able to attend our meeting at the Shoulder of Mutton in Mytholmroyd on Thursday January 27 at 12.30pm.

"If the company wants to make redundancies of more than 20 employees it must go through proper consultation, both individual and collective. The NUJ will be in full support of its members to protect their interests during this process."

Sweet and Maxwell is one of the principal employers in the Upper Calder Valley, with some 230 employees. NUJ Calderdale branch secretary Maggie Woods said: "Journalists in West Yorkshire are deeply concerned at the threat to jobs at Sweet and Maxwell, and we're anxious to help our colleagues at the company to defend their interests and vital employment in the area."