Journalists have called off a threatened strike at the Belfast Telegraph following an improved pay offer from the company.

National Union of Journalists members at the Independent News and Media-owned Belfast titles had voted to strike today and tomorrow after the company imposed a pay freeze on all staff.

But after weeks of talks a deal was reached yesterday. It encompasses a new pay structure giving substantial rises to many journalists and additional holiday entitlement to those with long service, aswell as improved maternity and paternity terms.

There will also be a joint review of salaries which the union expects will mean further rises in the coming months.

An NUJ spokesman said: “We have broken the pay freeze and secured a number of very important additional benefits for staff.

“It is the first time for many years we have got extra holidays and we have taken decisive steps to address the problems of the lowest paid. Now we want to see all other staff rewarded for their hard work which has made the Belfast papers very profitable and highly respected”.

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