National Union of Journalists members at South Yorkshire Newspapers were today due to begin a second walkout in a protest over pay.

Journalists from the Johnston Press-owned Doncaster Free Press, Doncaster Advertiser, South Yorkshire Times, Epworth Bells, Goole Courier, Gainsborough Standard and the Community Newsletter last week staged a day of strike action, and they also plan to stay away from their desks today and tomorrow.

South Yorkshire Newspapers says all its titles will be published as normal.

NUJ members are unhappy with a pay rise offer of 2.75 per cent and are instead asking for a five per cent increase.

They also say they are facing an increasing workload because of non-replacement of staff.

NUJ members during last week’s strike

South Yorkshire Newspapers mother of chapel Emma Roots told HoldtheFrontPage the situation had not changed since last week’s action, when members picketed the group’s offices.

She said: “We have made several attempts to re-open dialogue with management, none of which have been taken up.

“We received overwhelming support from members of the public on all four of our picket lines and were able to discuss the issues of poor pay and the cost, of cutting resources, on editorial quality.”