Vic: Fairfax newspapers to publish over weekend as usual

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Vic: Fairfax newspapers to publish over weekend as usual

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - Fairfax Media newspapers including The Age and The Sydney Morning
Herald will be published as normal this weekend despite staff striking until Monday, the
company's chief executive David Kirk said today.

Editorial staff in Melbourne and Sydney walked off the job yesterday over job cuts
and pay negotiations.

The walkout comes just days after Fairfax Media announced it would cut 550 jobs under
a business improvement program.

Mr Kirk said staff were striking illegally but declined to say if the company would
take any action.

He said senior editorial staff and employees exempt from industrial action produced
today's paper after yesterday's strike.

"We have a number of staff who are contractually exempt from industrial action," Mr
Kirk told AAP.

"The plan is to continue to put out the newspapers absolutely as normal, and we are
well advanced in doing that.

"We see no concern in getting the papers out tonight, Saturday and Sunday, and Monday,
and beyond, if necessary."

AAP md/pmu/cjh/de

KEYWORD: FAIRFAX KIRK

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