Industrial action by National Union of Journalists members at The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times in Glasgow looks increasingly likely, after more than 80 per cent voted in favour of a strike in protest to a change in their pay date.

Almost 300 NUJ memers at Newsquest (Herald & Times) were balloted, and of the 220 that voted 81 per cent were in favour of a strike and 92 per cent voted for industrial action short of a strike.

Some staff there are unhappy that the company has changed the monthly pay date from the 20th to the 26th, and are calling for an across the board compensation package to be put in place.

The union says some editorial staff have had to take out bank loans or borrow money from friends and family to deal with the hardship of missing out on their normal pay day.

Tim Blott, regional managing director of Newsquest (Herald & Times), has previously said that the company had offered to compensate staff who could provide evidence that they have been adversely affected.

Following the vote result, NUJ Scottish organiser Paul Holleran told HoldtheFrontPage that members were now in the process of discussing their next move as there had been no movement from the company.

The union would have to give Newsquest seven days notice of any action.

Paul said: “There will almost certainly be disruptive industrial action next week.

“The signs are that the company is not prepared to budge and so it looks unavoidable.”

A separate vote, for Amicus members at the company also affected by the pay date change, has also seen returning votes in excess of 90 per cent for industrial action short of a strike and 80 per cent for strike action.