National Union of Journalists members at Herts and Essex Newspapers are to ballot for industrial action.

The move follows last month’s announcement by the company of a proposed reorganisation of its editorial departments, which could see jobs cut and the closure of the Hoddesdon Mercury office.

The group’s titles include the Hertfordshire Mercury, Royston and Buntingford Mercury, Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury, Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury, Herts and Essex Observer series and the Harlow Star series.

NUJ members say a motion was passed for a ballot on industrial action almost unanimously.

A statement from the Herts and Essex Newspapers NUJ chapel said: “It is clear to the chapel that management has no intention of meeting with it, in any meaningful sense, until the process of consultation is completed and the proposals are ready to become policy.

“Therefore, the chapel feels it has no choice but to proceed to a formal ballot for industrial action.”

A second three-part motion was also passed unanimously, stating that the chapel wholly opposes the proposed restructuring, wishes to be directly involved with management in consultations and has “no confidence” in editor-in-chief Colin Grant, either in this current role or in him taking on a future role as editor of the Herts and Essex Observer Series.

The proposed changes include the discontinuation of the posts of editor and news editor at the Hoddesdon and Cheshunt Mercury series, as well as those at sister paper the Hertfordshire Mercury, in their present form, with one overall role of editor for the entire Mercury series and one for news editor created.

In addition, it is proposed that the role of editor of the sister Herts and Essex Observer be merged with that of the group’s editor-in-chief, Colin Grant, who would take on the job. The company’s two Star Series newspapers are set to have one instead of two editors.

Under the proposals, the Hoddesden Mercury editorial team would relocate to the Herts and Essex News group’s Media Centre at Hertford.