Editorial staff at the Manchester Evening News are set to ballot for industrial action if they fail to reach agreement over shift changes at the title.

A previous ballot bid was suspended after management revealed that compulsory redundancies would not be necessary as changes to the way the paper operated were brought in. Twenty-seven editorial posts were cut in February, with some 25 volunteering for redundancy.

But staff have turned down the latest offer from the company to bring in flexible hours, including evening shifts for new edition times, and the process is now with conciliation service ACAS to try to reach a compromise.

The ballot on whether to take industrial action would take place if the ACAS talks are unsuccessful.

News staff want assurances on the number and frequency of the new evening shifts they would have to work, and a new pay deal to reflect the change of hours.