The National Union of Journalists today launched a national campaign for improved pay at newspapers published by Newsquest.

Under the slogan Fair Pay Now, hundreds of journalists from Newsquest titles across the country have signed up to the campaign.

It is calling for a six per cent rise for all journalists in the group in each of the next two years.

The six per cent claim could be a stumbling block for at least one Newsquest centre: staff at Bolton signed up for next year's pay award - tied to inflation - when they accepted this year's deal.

But the union's new proposals demand that a newly-qualified senior on a daily paper earns a starting salary of £20,000 by July 2005, rising to £21,000 after 12 months.

A specialist reporter would get £23,000 under the NUJ plans.

The new claim comes after the union eventually agreed to the original company pay offers at Bolton and Bradford following two protracted strikes earlier this year.

Individual pay claims have now been put in at several Newsquest centres, including Brighton, Oxford, South London, York, Bolton, Bradford, Andover, Bournemouth, Blackburn, Darlington, Salisbury and Swindon, all asking for the six per cent rise.

Newsquest human resources director Jackie Lowe was unavailable for comment.

As part of the campaign NUJ members plan to distribute leaflets which compare the wages of Newsquest journalists to those of other staff within the media industry - but not those in the newspaper sector.

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said most journalists at Newsquest earned below the national average wage for a non-manual worker.

He said: "Our claim is not unreasonable - all we want is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and for people's skills to be properly rewarded.

"The papers our members produce are very profitable. Whilst executive pay rose 43 per cent and shareholders benefit from the company's success too many of our members are offered below-inflation pay deals and poverty pay."

Pay claims had to be submitted locally as the union doesn't have national negotiating rights. The NUJ doesn't have negotiating rights at all Newsquest centres, but it is hoping they will still take note of the campaign.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk