National Union of Journalists members at Coventry Newspapers are challenging Trinity Mirror’s Sly Bailey to answer questions over pay.

The chief executive is due to visit the offices of the Coventry Evening Telegraph on Monday as part of a long-standing arrangement to visit the group’s Midlands’ businesses.

The NUJ chapel there has written to invite their boss to take part in a question and answer session.

NUJ members at the evening newspaper and the Coventry Citizen, Nuneaton Tribune, Bedworth Echo and Hinckley Times, say they are unhappy with the company’s basic pay offer of 2.75 per cent with some extras on minimum bandings.

They have already held three days of industrial action, and have voted to strike again next Thursday and Friday.

But Coventry Newspapers has said the company has gone as far as it can go.

A spokesman said: “The company has conducted all negotiations in good faith and has improved its offer several times in order to find a compromise.

“We are disappointed that the NUJ has decided to take further action, but production will not be affected and our newspapers will be published as usual.

“We hope to have all our people back working normally as soon as possible.”