The National Union of Journalists and management at Newsquest title the Southern Daily Echo have reached agreement on pay negotiations for the year 2003-4.

The Southampton Chapel has agreed an increase of 2.5 per cent across the board for journalists from July 1 of this year.

Southern Daily Echo editor Ian Murray said he was grateful to the union negotiators for their common sense approach to the pay talks, which began in late April.

He said: "The agreement covers a number of issues, including the establishment of a firm banding for chief reporters and the creation of a banding structure allied to training for advertising feature writers."

Southampton father-of-chapel David Brine said: "Members voted by a clear majority to accept the offer. We are delighted the settlement was reached so promptly after the protracted negotiations over last year's deal."

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