Workers at the headquarters of Archant Suffolk have spoken out against the company’s decision to axe editorial jobs.

It is understood a combined subbing operation could be introduced at Ipswich and staff fear up to ten jobs could go.

Consultation with affected staff is under way but new fears emerged this week over the possibility of wage cuts for subbing staff that remain.

Journalists at the company, which publishes the East Anglian Daily Times and the Evening Star, are outraged at plans to reorganise the production and sports departments of the two papers.

They say it will result in a cut in staff of 20 per cent and leave most of those remaining facing wage cuts and uncertainty over future plans by the company.

A spokesman for the National Union of Journalists' chapel said staff "wholeheartedly deplored" the company's decision to "axe jobs, reduce pay, demote journalists, and change job descriptions".

He said: "We are asking Archant to rethink the policy and enter into immediate and meaningful negotiations with staff representatives.

"We further propose that all figures relating to the company's proposals be made accessible to employees so that we can draw up an intelligent response, and ask that the company suspends any decision on redundancies for a period of six months.

"After this, and if needed, any redundancies should be offered on a voluntary basis.

"Management sprung this upon us as a cost-cutting exercise, but when asked what amount of money the job and wage cuts were supposed to save, we were told they do not know.

"We were awarded a three per cent wage rise last month, but now they want to cut our salaries."

The NUJ is not recognised by Archant management but the company said earlier this week that an employee representative had been elected by staff and was helping with the "on-going consultation and communication process" with those affected.