Pickets were on duty from 6.30am yesterday as 48 journalists stayed away from work at Newsquest (Bradford) in protest at a 2.5 per cent pay offer.

The action centered on the Telegraph & Argus in central Bradford, the Keighley News in Shipley, the lkley Gazette, the Craven Herald in Skipton and the Wharfdale Observer in Otley.

The staff – around half the total editorial floor – were back at work at 2pm after their half-day strike.

Almost all the reporters stayed away from work, according to the National Union of Journalists, which organised the action, and said that all the company’s offices were picketed.

But the company said a minority of journalists took part. The T&A was published as normal, and work continued on the weeklies, where many of the deadlines fall today.

An NUJ spokesman said: “Support is solidifying for this action, not dropping away.

“In the original ballot before Christmas, eight people voted against it. Then a week last Monday, only one person voted against strike action. In the votes taken this week, confirming our action, there were no votes against and only one abstention.

“The action was exceptionally well-supported – there was only one news reporter covering Bradford.”

He said support was such that people joined the union on the day to take part in the industrial action, and support was widespread across the NUJ with cash being handed over to cover lost wages.

But Newsquest Bradford managing director Tim Blott said: “The minority of journalists who took part in strike action caused no disruption to our newspapers which were produced as normal.

“The majority of our editorial staff remained at work as did the rest of our employees including the print staff whose union has already accepted our 2.5 per cent pay offer.

“A few pickets turned up outside our offices. The police were on hand for what turned out to be a peaceful demonstration.”

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