Journalists at Newsquest-owned Essex County Newspapers are to stage an hour-long walk out tomorrow after voting in favour of industrial action.

The National Union of Journalists’ members at the Colchester-based division will hold the mandatory chapel meeting to protest at what they say is a failure by the company to adequately negotiate over pay.

They say plans to introduce a single pay anniversary will leave some staff waiting until June 2013 before any wage increases are considered.

Will Lodge, father of the chapel, said the chapel was still committed to talks with management but believed a potential third year out of four with no pay rise was unsustainable for members.

Said Will: “Members don’t want to take action but feel they have been left with little choice as their pay packets continue to shrink compared to the cost of living.

“Communication with management is on-going and we hope to avoid strike action.

“The chapel meeting discussions tomorrow will be about our next steps and is not intended to be disruptive.”

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said if no pay awards are made in 2012 it will be the third year in four that Newsquest journalists’ salaries have stood still.

She said: “Hard working journalists at Newsquest have suffered years of cuts whilst the company continues to pay out millions to senior executive staff. The union continues to support journalists who stand up against the harsh and unjust pay regime at Newsquest.”

The results of the ballot saw 75pc of members voting in favour of strike action and 81.25pc in favour of action short of a strike.

A ballot for journalists at Newsquest South Essex will close today. The two chapels decided to ballot over pay at the start of the month.

The company had not commented at the time of publication.