Editorial staff at Newsquest York are set to take five days of strike action next week over a pay dispute with management spanning eight months.

Thirty-four National Union of Journalists members were balloted at The Press and the Gazette and Herald, with just over 84 per cent voting in favour of the strike.

The union membership, which includes journalists, sub-editors and photographers at both newspapers, represents around half of all editorial staff. The industrial action will take place from May 22 to 26.

The decision to stage the five-day walkout was taken at a meeting of union members last week, following eight months of negotiations that had failed to result in a deal on pay.

In a statement, the NUJ said: "The company has made a below-inflation offer of three per cent which has been rejected by the union's members at the York titles.

"There is particular anger that management will not match pay-offers given to journalists at other Newsquest centres.

"Chapel reps say the below-inflation pay-offer comes against a background of increased workloads, understaffing and attacks on members' pensions."

Joint Father of Chapel Sam Southgate said: "NUJ members at Newsquest York are frustrated and infuriated in equal measure.

"This dispute is a result of management intransigence getting in the way of securing a reasonable deal.

"We've been patient throughout eight months of negotiations and have put forward a number of proposals to solve the dispute. At every turn we have been rebuffed and management is refusing to budge.

"Newsquest still has time to avoid this dispute by returning to the table for genuine and meaningful negotiations.

"Journalists at The Press and the Gazette and Herald want to get on with reporting news to the local community.

"It's a real shame that management's failure to move on pay has forced them into taking this action."

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