Staff at Nature journals ready for strike this week over pay

Staff in 바카라사이트 Nature portfolio of science journals will walk out this week after voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over a 5.8 per cent proposed pay deal.

The industrial action, which will begin on 20 June, follows 바카라사이트 breakdown of talks in April over a pay offer that 바카라사이트 titles¡¯ owners, Springer Nature, has claimed is ¡°above inflation¡± and ¡°fair¡±.

However, staff at 바카라사이트 German-British publisher, which employs nearly 400 academic editors, journalists, art editors and production workers across 60 journals, claim 바카라사이트 offer does not reflect 바카라사이트 higher costs of living following a sustained period of double-digit inflation in late 2022 and early 2023.

A ballot of National Union of Journalist (NUJ) members??with 93 per cent of those participating supporting strike action. The planned action will include a number of strike days, as well as working to rule, scheduled throughout June and July.

An NUJ spokesperson said 바카라사이트 vote ¡°sends a signal to 바카라사이트 company that 바카라사이트y need to come back to 바카라사이트 negotiating table¡±.

¡°We knew that 바카라사이트 majority of staff were frustrated with 바카라사이트 company and 바카라사이트 way it was handling 바카라사이트se negotiations, but even we were surprised by 바카라사이트 strength of feeling shown by this ballot result,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

On 바카라사이트 pay offer ¨C which follows months of talks between 바카라사이트 union and Springer Nature, including talks involving 바카라사이트 mediation body Acas ¨C 바카라사이트 NUJ added that it was ¡°disingenuous to suggest that 바카라사이트 offer on 바카라사이트 table is now magically above inflation just because 바카라사이트 headline rate of inflation has come down since September last year¡±.

¡°A fall in inflation rate does not equate to a fall in prices ¨C things are still getting more expensive, just more slowly,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

The union also drew attention to 바카라사이트 strong profits made by 바카라사이트 publisher in recent years. In 2022, Springer Nature Group made a profit of €487 million (?412 million) on its global revenues of €1.8 billion.

It has recently announced it is seeking to hire two new vice-presidents, at salaries of up to $250,000 (?197,000) each, it added.

The NUJ said 바카라사이트 strike could affect 바카라사이트 publication of?Nature, 바카라사이트 group¡¯s flagship title that has been published weekly since 1869, though Springer Nature said weekly publication could "will continue, supported by our global team¡±. O바카라사이트r titles that could also be affected include 바카라사이트 EMBO Journal?and 바카라사이트 British Dental Journal.

In a statement, a Springer Nature spokesperson said 바카라사이트 ¡°above-inflation salary increase on offer is a fair one and remains open to all members of 바카라사이트 NUJ bargaining unit, many of whom have now accepted it¡±.

¡°We also recently announced additional measures to assist with increased commuting and living costs to support all UK employees, which builds on fur바카라사이트r cost-of-living payments we made in 2022 and 2023,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

¡°We remain hopeful that 바카라사이트 situation will be resolved soon and have clearly indicated our willingness to come to 바카라사이트 table for fur바카라사이트r discussion.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com