National Union of Journalists members at South Yorkshire Newspapers have voted to strike in a protest over pay.

Journalists at titles including the Doncaster Free Press, Epworth Bells and Gainsborough Standard have named three dates for walkouts, saying that they are unhappy with a pay rise offer of 2.75 per cent and an increasing workload caused by non-replacement of staff.

The company says its pay offer “is competitive” and “a very fair overall basic offer”, and could not implement pay increases while under threat of strike action.

Union members will strike on July 12, 18 and 19 – chosen to hit press days for many of the titles – unless agreement can be reached.

They plan to demonstrate outside the company’s Doncaster office and to leaflet readers and advertisers.

They are also threatening to impose a work to rule for two weeks from July 10, with evening and weekend work banned,

NUJ members there are asking for a five per cent increase.

South Yorkshire Newspapers mother of chapel Emma Roots told HoldtheFrontPage: “We are prepared to negotiate, but we must achieve a rise above the cost of living.

“Salaries have declined, in real terms, dramatically over the past ten years.

“People are struggling to get by. Trainees start on as little as £11,400 and even those staff with decades of experience and considerable responsibilities are on barely over £20,000.”

She added: “We know we can’t stop production, but what we really want to do is make our point to Johnston Press nationally, which seems to have no interest in the health and wellbeing of its staff.”

South Yorkshire Newspapers managing director Terry Johnson said all titles would be published as normal if the strike went ahead.

A company statement said: “Following extensive pay negotiations, members of the NUJ employed by South Yorkshire Newspapers Ltd have voted in favour of industrial action in support of their pay claim.

“The union have given notice of their intention to take one, one day strike on Wednesday July 12th and one two day strike on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday July 19th. From July 10th through to Friday 21st July they also intend to operate a work to rule.

“The Company’s pay offer is competitive and along with the improvements made to the grading structure over recent years represents a very fair overall basic offer.

“Whilst we always endeavour to take a positive approach to improving our employee’s pay and conditions, we believe that in the current economic climate we have now made our best and final offer.

“We still remain open to constructive discussions however we cannot implement the pay increases whilst under threat of industrial action.”

There are 24 NUJ members at South Yorkshire Newspapers, and 85.7 per cent of those who voted said they were in favour of a strike.