The National Union of Journalists has claimed that newspaper publisher Newsquest is ‘taking its staff for a ride’ by axing jobs at a time when it claims profits are up.

Earlier this month HTFP reported that the world’s oldest newspaper Berrow’s Worcester Journal was set to lose its editor following a restructure which would see a move from the West Midlands to a centralised editorial structure at Newsquest Midlands South.

The move is expected to lead to seven job losses overall with the company blaming the cuts on market conditions.

This week the NUJ has claimed that the company saw a 40pc rise in profits after tax to £5.22 million in 2010, although the company itself reported a 7.9pc year-on-year decline in advertising revenues in the period July – September.

The union says the latest cutbacks will put remaining staff under enormous pressure to meet deadlines by using press releases and other submitted work for publication without significant alteration.

Chris Morley, NUJ Northern and Midlands Organiser said: “In the latest proposals, as well as cutting editor, news desk, reporter and photographic roles, the company wants to create a sports subbing hub in Worcester that would affect the Stourbridge and Hereford operations.

“It is clear from the accounts that Newsquest is taking its staff for a ride by constantly telling them the business is suffering and cuts are needed – but failing to inform them that.”

As well as the Worcester News and the Journal, the titles affected by the restructure include the Evesham Journal series, Malvern Gazette, and Ledbury Reporter, all currently edited by John Murphy.

When the company made the announcement at the start of this month it said it would try to avoid unnecessary redundancy situations wherever possible and will be asking for volunteers and looking at natural wastage through non-filling of vacancies.

The three existing editors’ roles in the division are set to be replaced by two new senior roles of group editor and deputy group editor overseeing all the titles.

Worcester News editor Peter John who is overseeing the restructure declined to comment.