Journalists in the North of England have voted to take strike action in protest at plans to axe 14 sub-editors.

Members of the National Union of Journalists voted for the action because Newsquest wants to transfer editorial production of weekly titles from Darlington and York to Bradford over the next six months.

Under the plans, production of the free weekly papers, along with the paid-for weeklies and magazines, would be centralised at unit in Bradford where four new roles would be created.

But NUJ members in Darlington, York, Durham, Northallerton and Bishop Auckland are now set to walkout over the proposals, which put 14 jobs at risk.

NUJ Northern and Midlands organiser Chris Morley said: “In addition to industrial action, we are also considering whether the proposed transfer of work may be in breach of employment law. This could have serious financial consequences for Newsquest.
 
“The decision to vote on strike action was inevitable following the latest attack on jobs and security by this discredited management. The NUJ is ready to defend our members and quality journalism with fierce determination.

“Journalists at Newsquest have endured a series of damaging job cuts and illogical centralisation of editorial production through schemes which are destroying the quality of their newspapers and reader confidence.

“The effect on the morale of dedicated professional journalists has been shocking.”

Under the plans, sub-editing of the daily papers, York’s The Press and The Northern Echo, would remain at their existing locations.

Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson had not responded to requests for a comment at the time of publication.