Industrial action at the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal is to be stepped up tomorrow as National Union of Journalists members begin a new two-day stoppage.

The days have been chosen to this time affect the Sunday Sun, which is also published by the group.

More than 100 union members have already taken part in two one-day strikes, and the call has gone out for other unions to show their support with banners and a rally in Newcastle city centre on Saturday.

The walk-outs are taking place because of a dispute over pay, where the company - owned by Trinity Mirror - has offered a two per cent increase but the union wants four per cent.

Father of chapel Will Mapplebeck said: "For years our pay increases have been falling behind inflation and what we are asking for is not an unreasonable request.

"We had a letter from the company explaining there was no money and there would be no more money, which made members at the chapel meeting this week determined to strike again.

"No one wants to be doing this. We've all lost money which, hopefully, the union will be able to recoup. There is a real point of principle here."

NC&J and the union had earlier gone to the conciliation service ACAS, but no agreement was reached.

Human resources director David Rowland said: "The union had a meeting at which they decided to go ahead with the two-day strike.

"We are making plans to produce the newspapers as normal."

The union has more than 100 members among the 170-strong editorial workforce.

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