Star shareholders have their say

It was the last stage in a whistlestop tour that saw company secretary Tony Briscoe, editor Richard Bagley and head of circulation Bernadette Keaveney hit the road for four days to Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and Cardiff to meet the most important people to your paper - you.

Shareholders welcomed news that the Communication Workers Union has decided to affiliate to the PPPS management committee, bringing the total number of trade union representatives to nine alongside the FBU, RMT, POA, Unite, GMB, Community, the national NUM and the North East Area of the NUM.

And the new editor's political report sparked positive discussion over improved content, developments and problems, and strategy.

Ms Keaveney was part of the AGM team for the first time and used the opportunity to deliver an upbeat rallying cry to readers on the impact of a new integrated printing and distribution package that will start on June 18.

Recent visits to Scotland and north-east England have included meetings with trade union regional secretaries and other supporters with the aim of generating local demand to boost readership.

A resolution tabled by the Scottish Morning Star Campaign Committee about these landmark developments was carried unanimously.

The AGM also approved the co-option of Labour Welsh Assembly Member Mick Antoniw to the management committee to replace Barry Camfield, who has emigrated to Australia.

Nine individuals were elected unopposed - retiring members Mary Davis, Rosie Eagleson, Martin Gould, Anita Halpin, Dave Moxham, Christiane Ohsan and Michael Walker. They will be joined by new faces Jamshid Ahmadi and Ruth Winters.

newsed@peoples-press.com