Union members angry at the non-replacement of editorial staff at three Glasgow-based newspapers have voted in favour of work-to-rule industrial action.

The move comes as 20 vacancies – two in editorial – remain unfilled at Trinity Mirror’s local freesheet The Glaswegian, the Daily Record and Sunday Mail.

The papers, which are produced out of the same office, employ approximately 270 editorial staff.

After an official ballot, National Union of Journalists’ members voted for the work-to-rule action which will involve taking full breaks, working proper hours and not doing other people’s jobs.

NUJ Scottish organiser Paul Holleran said: “Work-to-rule starts next Friday and will go on indefinitely.

“Colleagues are not being replaced and the goodwill has vanished.

“There are 20 vacancies but all we were looking for was two specific jobs to be filled – both sub-editors. We’re not being unreasonable.

“It’s a health and safety issue as there’s a lot of people not taking breaks. We’ve had people off long-term sick with stress.”

Mark Hollinshead, managing director of Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd, said: “I am extremely disappointed at this decision which will undoubtedly harm our newspapers and probably result in extra cost pressures being put on our business at a time when we are experiencing the most harsh economic conditions in over a quarter of a century.

“I am also very disappointed in the behaviour of the NUJ who, with only 25pc of editorial staff voting to take part in industrial action, clearly do not have a strong mandate to take such action.

“We have a great team and a great business at Central Quay and no-one wants to see the hard work we have carried out go to waste as a result of this industrial action.”