Pay talks this week have failed to halt a planned walkout by NUJ staff, due to start on Monday at Newsquest's Bradford and Kendal centres.

In Bradford, where management has offered a two per cent increase, the strike is due to last for five days.

In Kendal, a 2.5 per cent pay offer is on the table but a walkout is due to last until Thursday.

The Bradford chapel has also agreed to name ten more days for strike action but these will not be announced until the company has been told, as required by law.

Newspapers affected at the Bradford centre include the Telegraph and Argus, Keighley News, Ilkley Gazette, Craven Herald and Wharfedale Observer.

Newsquest Kendal publishes the Westmorland Gazette, Lancaster and South Lakes Citizens and Westmorland Messenger.

Picket lines are due to be in place from Monday to Friday in Bradford, Shipley, Keighley, Skipton, Otley, and Ilkley, and from Monday to Thursday in Kendal, Lancaster, and Ulverston.

The union is arguing its pay claim on figures which show the inflation rate at around 2.8 per cent.

It also argues that fully qualified senior journalists starting rates of £15,000 on the weeklies and £17,100 on the daily are not enough.

It is appealing for donations for striking staff to help sustain the dispute.

The union is also asking for polite e-mail protests to be e-mailed to Newsquest UK chief executive Paul Davidson.

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