Editorial staff at the Bristol Evening Post are to hold a ballot to decide whether to strike in protest at threatened job losses.

Members of the National Union of Journalists are claiming they have been forced to act because management have refused to answer their questions about feared job cuts.

Strategists from Northcliffe Newspapers’ Aim Higher cost-cutting programme are looking at options including a ‘central spine’ between certain functions of the Western Daily Press and Evening Post, as both publications are produced in the same offices.

No decisions have been made on where changes might be made or the number of jobs that could go.

A consultation period is due to begin today and editor-in-chief of the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press Mike Norton believes the union has jumped the gun.

Mike said: “I am surprised and disappointed that the NUJ chapel is threatening a strike ballot so early in the proceedings.

“Northcliffe has not refused to answer the NUJ’s questions.

“All its legitimate questions will be answered as part of the official consultation process, which is due to begin on November 2.

“We hope and expect that the NUJ will play a full and constructive part in that process. I am concerned that our lack of response so far is being misunderstood or – at worst – misrepresented by the NUJ.”

Aim Higher is an efficiency project focusing on ways to save at least £25m a year.

Staff were told more than a week ago about the proposals in a briefing which said that up to 36 posts could be under threat.

NUJ national organiser Barry Fitzpatrick said: “This demonstrates the extent to which Northcliffe’s heavy-handed management style drives a moderate workforce to take this form of action.

“They have not given answers to the NUJ chapel’s legitimate concerns and this is the consequence they face. They have only themselves to blame.”

The decision to ballot for a strike comes after what the union is hailing a “significant rise” in membership at the Bristol Evening Post in recent weeks.