More than five weeks of strike action by journalists has come to an end with agreement over pay and conditions.

The National Union of Journalists has negotiated a recognition and procedures agreement for staff at Welland Valley Newspapers and also secured a new pay structure – which has resulted in a 40 per cent pay increase for some journalists.

Thirteen of the 18 Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press editorial staff were on strike from June 1 and went back to work this week after a new deal was signed by the company, which is owned by Johnston Press.

An agreement had been on the table for much of that time, but a major sticking point was the pay of junior reporters, who will now start on £10,500 a year with a guaranteed rise to £12,000 after 12 months.

Seniors’ pay will see less of a change, but the new pay structure means that senior journalists who have been on lower rates will now see their wages increase to a standard across-the-board rate.

A spokesman for the NUJ said today: “It’s a huge moral victory for us after all this time.

“We have been well supported by union members from other centres, with moral support and donations.”

The changes will affect Welland Valley’s 13 centres in Lincolnshire, which include the Stamford Mercury, Skegness Standard, Louth Leader, Horncastle News, Grantham Journal and Market Rasen Mail.

The spokesman added: “Another important change is that the company has agreed to us giving a written submission in October so they can plan their budget and take into account wages, training and so on.

“We feel we have woken Johnston Press and our own management up on the wages issue.”

A company statement said: “The chapel has accepted the offer made prior to the onset of industrial action of 2.5 per cent for senior journalists plus new improved pay scales for new entrants.

“On resumption of normal working, the company and the chapel will sign a voluntary recognition and procedure agreement, a process which started in April of this year.

“This new agreement, which reflects other such agreements entered into elsewhere between Johnston Press and the NUJ during recent months, is aimed at creating an improved climate for employee relations in the future.”

The bi-weekly newspaper continued to be published during the strike with help from non-NUJ staff from other centres and freelance cover – although some had refused to cross the picket lines in place at Spalding.

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