Journalists working for the biggest newspaper group in Wales are to be balloted on industrial action following moves by their employer to impose compulsory redundancies.

The Cardiff-based Western Mail & Echo has announced plans to make 44 workers – including ten journalists – redundant.

The Trinity Mirror company publishes the Western Mail, the South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the Celtic group of weekly papers.

These were the first figures to be announced to staff after Trinity Mirror said earlier this year that it would be taking “further steps to protect its position” as it prepared for a tough year of trading.

A spokesman for Trinity Mirror has said the company would not be commenting on numbers on a centre by centre basis, adding: “This is a locally-driven process and each operating company has its own timetable for consultation.”

The National Union of Journalists is organising a fight to protect jobs.

Martin Shipton, a member of the Western Mail & Echo Chapel (office branch) committee, said: “Our members have voted unanimously to ballot for strike action. The company’s proposals will damage the newspapers and threaten the long-term future of print journalism in Wales.

“We are not prepared to stand idly by while faceless executives on huge salaries in London destroy jobs in Wales and wreck long-established newspapers.”

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “Our members in Wales have our full support as they fight for the survival of their jobs and the fine papers they put out.”