Working for Robert Maxwell
TitleWorking for Robert Maxwell
ReferenceTAPE/012/2
Date
n.d.
Scope and ContentPaul Foot talks about working for Robert Maxwell. He said that the worst news he had probably ever heard was that Maxwell had taken over the Daily Mirror (on 13th July 1984). Joe Haynes, the leader writer for the Daily Mirror, had told them at a NUJ meeting the day before that it would be grim working for Maxwell. In spite of Maxwell's dubious reputation he was chosen to head the British Printing Corporation because they thought he would "bash the Unions", which was what they wanted. Very soon a large proportion of the workers lost their jobs, and soon the same thing was happening elsewhere, wherever Maxwell went.
The Daily Mirror had been a wonderful place to work, with a very strong union. Everyone felt they were operating as part of a collective, not just amongst the journalists, but also amongst the print-workers. It was not true however that the editor was restricted by the power of the unions. It was a very free, happy and contented place to work, and they also sold a lot of newspapers. For example, in the early days of the miners' strike (1984-5), any miner, or a relative of one, or a supporter of one, would get free food in the Daily Mirror canteen. It was wonderful in the canteen at that time, as it would always be full of miners and their families, from all over the country. The print unions paid for them to be there. That was how it was before Maxwell took over.
The NUJ asked if they could buy the Daily Mirror, but were turned down on spurious grounds, but Maxwell was allowed to do so.
Maxwell's view of a good newspaper was one which printed a lot of news about himself, and he refused to let anything critical to be printed about his cronies. The circulation went down and down. He destroyed the unions by sacking the main activists. He would sack people on the spot, and brutally force them out of the building.
He bought up company after company, but eventually he found himself in a difficult financial position, because interest rates went up, and he had over-reached himself. But before his downfall he had destroyed what had been an excellent newspaper, and one which Paul Foot had loved.
The Daily Mirror had been a wonderful place to work, with a very strong union. Everyone felt they were operating as part of a collective, not just amongst the journalists, but also amongst the print-workers. It was not true however that the editor was restricted by the power of the unions. It was a very free, happy and contented place to work, and they also sold a lot of newspapers. For example, in the early days of the miners' strike (1984-5), any miner, or a relative of one, or a supporter of one, would get free food in the Daily Mirror canteen. It was wonderful in the canteen at that time, as it would always be full of miners and their families, from all over the country. The print unions paid for them to be there. That was how it was before Maxwell took over.
The NUJ asked if they could buy the Daily Mirror, but were turned down on spurious grounds, but Maxwell was allowed to do so.
Maxwell's view of a good newspaper was one which printed a lot of news about himself, and he refused to let anything critical to be printed about his cronies. The circulation went down and down. He destroyed the unions by sacking the main activists. He would sack people on the spot, and brutally force them out of the building.
He bought up company after company, but eventually he found himself in a difficult financial position, because interest rates went up, and he had over-reached himself. But before his downfall he had destroyed what had been an excellent newspaper, and one which Paul Foot had loved.
Extent1 side of cassette tape
Physical descriptionNWSA copy
LanguageEnglish
Persons keywordFoot, Paul, Maxwell, Robert
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationZ (Room 24)