Journalists at the Guardian and the Observer are holding a 48-hour strike in protest at the proposed sale of the Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media.
The strike, the first at the Guardian in more than 50 years, is due to take place on Wednesday 4 December and Thursday 5 December.
Tortoise is run by James Harding, the former editor of the Times and former director of BBC News. It has put forward plans to continue publishing the Observer on a Sunday and build the title’s digital presence. It would combine the Observer with Tortoise’s podcasts, newsletters and live events. News of Tortoise’s approach for the Observer emerged in September.
A Guardian spokesperson said: “We recognise the strength of feeling about the proposed sale of the Observer and appreciate that NUJ members wish to make their views heard. While we respect the right to strike, we do not believe a strike is the best course of action in this case and our talks with the NUJ continue.
“We have a plan in place to minimise the impact of strike action on staff, readers and subscribers and we will continue to publish online and produce the print edition as usual.”
National Union of Journalists members passed a motion last month stating that selling the Sunday newspaper to Tortoise would be a “betrayal” of the Scott Trust’s commitment to the Observer. The trust is the ultimate owner of Guardian Media Group.
If the transaction proceeds, Observer staff have been told they can opt to take voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms or that if they transfer to Tortoise that their existing terms and conditions will be honoured. Harding has said that the sale offers the chance to invest in and extend the Observer’s legacy.
Ole Jacob Sunde, the chair of the Scott Trust, said in an email to staff on Wednesday: “Throughout the process our goal has always been to do what is right for Guardian and Observer readers and staff so that both titles continue to promote liberal journalism and thrive long into the future. This has been at the forefront of our discussions as a board.”
He said the Scott Trust would stay on as a part-owner of the Observer in the proposed deal, and that any new owners would have to embody the values of editorial independence, press freedom and liberal journalism that had been part of the Observer’s ethos since Guardian Media Group bought it in 1993.
Sunde added: “I fully respect people’s rights to take industrial action. I also think it’s right that we share relevant information in a timely manner. I am confident that this has been – and continues to be – a detailed and thoughtful process.”
The strike means that readers may notice some differences to the Guardian’s website on Wednesday and Thursday and in the print edition on Thursday and Friday.
Due to deadlines, some of the stories that appear on the website and in the newspaper on those days will not have been written on the day in question. In other cases, anonymous bylines may be used. Guardian US and Guardian Australia staff are not part of the strike action.
The union said the strike coincided with the Observer – the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper – marking 233 years since it first began publication.
The NUJ general secretary-elect, Laura Davison, said: “Guardian and Observer members have the full backing of the NUJ as they undertake this significant industrial action – the first for over 50 years.
She added: “The massive vote to take this step shows journalists’ desire to publicly highlight to readers and those in charge their collective concerns about the future of the title. The Observer holds a unique and important place in public life and our members care about the next chapter in its history.”
The ballot for strike action last month showed that of those eligible to participate, 75% cast a vote, with 93% supporting industrial action.
