In her word to employees, Ms Bateson mentioned she and Guardian editor Kath Viner “hear the passionate cases being made by colleagues about the proposed sale of the Observer”, and mentioned journalists who don’t want to switch to Tortoise Media could be supplied a “time-limited” voluntary redundancy scheme.
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She mentioned that “enhanced redundancy terms would be maintained post-transfer for a period still being negotiated”.
Sources mentioned the Scott Belief, The Guardian’s final guardian, was as a result of maintain a web based assembly on Monday afternoon amid enormous unrest from the corporate’s editorial employees and different stakeholders.
Final week, Dale Vince, the eco-entrepreneur, confirmed he could be involved in investing in The Observer if the sale to Tortoise Media fell by way of.
The primary in a sequence of two-day strikes is because of start on Wednesday, with some division heads who’re union members mentioned to really feel conflicted over the strike motion.
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Journalists are as a result of start a strike this week. Pic: The Observer
In her memo on Monday, Ms Bateson wrote: “We recognise that some people may not wish to transfer to Tortoise Media and we would offer a time limited voluntary redundancy scheme to Observer staff on the same terms we did over the summer.
“Our present enhanced redundancy phrases could be maintained post-transfer for a interval nonetheless being negotiated.
“Observer staff who move to Tortoise Media would also have the opportunity to apply for “inner solely” open roles at the Guardian for a period still being negotiated.
“Freelance contracts could be prolonged till the top of September 2025 and renegotiated at that time.”
She added that those transferring to Tortoise Media “would retain the identical job titles, salaries and advantages, together with sabbatical rights, ought to the deal go forward by way of ‘TUPE’ [Transfer of Undertakings [Protection of Employment]]”.
And she insisted: “Our precedence has all the time been to protect the Observer’s 233-year legacy and make sure the proposed settlement is as sturdy as it may be for employees, readers and the way forward for liberal journalism.”
Nonetheless, that pledge has already been examined by the resignation of Jay Rayner, The Observer’s long-serving restaurant critic.
A GMG spokesperson declined to remark additional.
