The National Union of Journalists has today won official recognition at Kent Regional Newspapers after a lengthy campaign.

The successful result came after editorial staff who are in the union voted by 60 per cent to force the Northcliffe company to recognise the union in a formal ballot.

This means the NUJ now has the right to conduct collective bargaining rights on behalf of its members at KRN’s weekly paid-for and free titles.

Kent Regional Newspapers publishes a portfolio of both paid-for weekly and free newspapers across mid and north Kent.

In the Kent region, the paid-for titles comprise the Herne Bay & Whitstable Times, Faversham Times, Folkestone Herald, Dover Express, Medway News, Medway Standard, East Kent Gazette Group, Isle of Thanet Gazette and the Thanet Times.

Its free weeklies are Ashford Adscene, Canterbury Adscene, Folkestone & Dover Adscene, Maidstone Adscene, Medway Adscene, Sittingbourne Adscene, and Thanet Adscene.

The NUJ is already recognised at Northcliffe’s titles in Bristol and Leicester and the result will boost journalists seeking recognition at Swansea’s South Wales Evening Post.

NUJ national organiser Barry Fitzpatrick said: “Our members are delighted to have won a genuine voice at work.

“Despite a hard-fought, anti-union campaign, journalists have made it clear they see the NUJ as their best way of securing better pay, benefits and job security.

“This result adds to the growing number of Northcliffe titles that are opting for union recognition.

“It is a real victory for our members at Kent Regional Newspapers who have been working so hard to ensure their views are heard.”