Unite Viewpoint

Over 100 Jobs Saved at CUP

More than 100 jobs under threat at Cambridge University Press (CUP) have been saved. Unite members have been campaigning to save the 425 year old press and the company proposal to axe over 170 jobs, which would have meant the near closure of the the company. But, following talks with the Unite CUP will now be making just 58 staff redundant in total, including 48 from the printing section. A further 25 print staff will now be moved to different parts of the business, with around 25 employees having already left the firm to seek new employment since the job cuts were announced. Ann Field, Unite’s national officer said: “The prospect of losing printing at Cambridge University Press after 425 years of continuous activity was horrific for the workforce, for the community, and for the many generations of Cambridge workers and their families who have supported the university and its press. “Although the loss of any jobs will be painful for people affected, Unite members, chapel reps and union officials are glad that more jobs have been saved and that printing will continue, including an element of colour work.” CUP boss Steve Bourne added: “Whilst we are all pleased that the number of redundancies is far lower than we originally anticipated, it is still a difficult time for all involved and we will be doing all we can to support our colleagues during this process. “I would like to thank our staff, their union representatives working in the printing business and the union Unite for working with us so constructively." Well done to the Unite chapels and officials at CUP for fighting and campaigning so hard to save these jobs and the 425 years old press.

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About Tony Burke

Tony Burke is an Assistant General Secretary at the UK and Ireland's biggest trade union, Unite the Union. Unite was formed on 1st May, 2007 by a merger of Amicus and TGWU. He heads up the Unite GPM sector, leading a team of experienced full time National and Regional Officers covering the Print, Paper, Packaging, Newspapers, Publishing and Media industries. Tony was Deputy General Secretary of the print, paper and media union the GPMU until it merged, with the skills and professional union Amicus in 2004. Tony is a member of the General Council and Executive Committee of the TUC and also a number of senior committee’s of the global union Union Network International (UNI) Graphical; a member of the Executive Committee of the European Chemical, Energy and Mineworkers Federation; the chair of the TUC's Organising Academy Board; a member of the board of Vision In Print And Packaging and a trade union appointed member of the board of COGENT - the sector skills council for the Chemical, Oil, Pharmaceutical, Energy and Nuclear Industries. He is also a member of the Board Of Management of The Peoples Press Printing Society. This blog will contain news from Unite, graphical, paper and media unions throughout Europe and the world and news and comment on industrial relations issues important to Unite members, managers and our industries. Feel free to comment on the issues that are posted here.