The recent unprecedented strike action by staff at Springer Nature (https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/journalists-at-springer-nature-titles-set-to-strike-over-pay.html) highlighted a fundamental truth about an industry squeezed by the twin demands of profit and efficiency. Well, who knew that trying to do more with less would eventually crash and burn, eh?
An agreement has been reached now (https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/springer-nature-pay-dispute-ends.html), but I’d like to think that when the editorial and production staff decided to work to rule, the leadership suddenly realized just how much work those staff did – over and above their contracted hours, day in and day out – to maintain the high quality and reputation that the Nature brand trades upon (and of course, because they give a damn about doing a good job).
I cheered along with every one of those striking staff at Springer Nature, because I know that I could so easily have been one of them.