Striking staff at Newsquest Bradford were back at work this week after completing a ten-day walkout.

The National Union of Journalists, which is leading the dispute over pay, says seven new members joined during that time.

The strike has also been mentioned in the House of Commons, where MP Terry Rooney, the Labour MP for Bradford North, put forward an Early Day Motion.

It was signed by a futher five MPs. They included the MPs for Bradford West and Keighley.

The motion said: "This House notes that Newsquest (Bradford) made a profit of £8.7m in the last financial year; further notes that a dividend of £6m was paid to its US parent Gannett; regrets that only a two per cent pay increase has been offered to NUJ members working on the titles Bradford Telegraph and Argus, Keighley News, Ilkley Gazette, Wharfedale Observer and Craven Herald; and calls on the management of Newsquest (Bradford) to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiations with the NUJ to achieve a realistic settlement."

The union will now hold a new ballot on further strike action.

A spokesman said: "We consider this ten day action to have been a great success. It was very well supported by 40 journalists who stayed solid throughout the strike.

"We were boosted on Friday by news that our colleagues on the Craven Herald have voted to join the chapel en-masse."

Chapel membership has reached a new high during the dispute with some 40 journalists out of 95 now supporting the action over pay.

In Kendal, where four days of action were called off before journalists were due to walk out, talks have been arranged with management, again over pay, which will be negotiated by NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear.

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