Journalists held a mandatory chapel meeting spanning an entire afternoon as part of three days of industrial action at the Darlington centre.

More than 50 National Union of Journalists members from The Northern Echo, Darlington and Stockton Times and the Durham Times and the Advertiser series left their desks at noon to convene in a local cafe and did not return to work.

But in a memo to staff today - described as "aggressive and threatening" by the union - Newsquest North-East managing director David Coates announced the company would be making a deduction from the salaries of all those who took part in the action.

He said: "Staff must remember that their contracts require them to work reasonably and flexibly and to obey reasonable requests in connection with the needs of the business.

"Where a 'mandatory chapel meeting' involves a refusal to meet normal contractual requirements, the company is not obliged to accept or pay for part-performance of a working day and will be entitled to require those employees to stay away from work without pay so that alternative arrangements can be made.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the company will make a deduction from the salaries of those taking part in this form of action leading to an absence from work on part of 5 January 2009 due to the mandatory chapel meeting which commenced at noon and continued for the rest of the day.

"Any subsequent absences will also lead to deductions from salaries. Staff concerned will be notified in due course of any deduction to be made from January 2009 salary payments."

Following the memo, journalists at Newsquest North East agreed to return to work this afternoon rather than hold a similar meeting today - but gave management notice of more industrial action next week.

NUJ Northern Regional Organiser Chris Morley said: "The chapel have decided to go back to work as a gesture of good will despite an inflammatory memo sent to them this morning by managing director David Coates.

"NUJ members viewed the memo as aggressive and threatening.

"They are seeking talks with the company - but have given notice of further action to make it clear that they are determined to defend the future viability of their papers as a quality service for the people of the North East of England."

The ongoing row concerns cuts to 17 editorial positions, three of which have been through compulsory redundancies – a reporter, production role and a database management position.

A further eight staff have left through voluntary redundancies while some vacant positions have stay unfilled and freelance commissions have also been reduced.

Northern Echo editor Peter Barron, who spent over an hour at yesterday's meeting answering questions, called yesterday's action "unjustified".

He told HoldtheFrontPage: "What I tried to do was reassure staff as honestly as I could and to tell them that I felt any action which affected production of the titles would be unjustified.

"I tried my best to answer their questions. We have worked very hard here to minimise the impact of the recession on journalists.

"Progress was made in getting the number of compulsory redundancies down to three.

"We have been engaged in a consultation process – we listened to suggestions from staff and amended our plans as a result of suggestions that came through.

"I am very saddened that the NUJ decided to take the action that it took."

Mr Barron added that he asked staff to return to work at the meeting and, although it was a challenge, the Northern Echo was sent to the presses on time last night.