Journalists at newspapers in Essex have called off two strikes that were due to take place next week.

The National Union of Journalists members working for Newsquest titles in Colchester and Basildon agreed to call off the action following further negotiations with management over pay.

Staff at the company’s Echo titles in Basildon were due to stage a three-day strike from Monday, after working-to-rule for the last two weeks, while union members from daily title the Colchester Gazette had voted to stage a one-day walkout on Wednesday.

The union had voted for industrial action after claiming the company has failed to negotiate adequately over pay, with staff facing a pay freeze.

However, the company said earlier in the week that it agreed with the union that it would consider a revised pay claim.

The NUJ confirmed that further negotiations had taken place with management and the two chapels had agreed to call the srikes off.

Mother of the Chapel, Sally King, said:  “I was encouraged by the response from senior managers and hope this heralds a positive working relationship in the future.”

Martin McNeill, editorial director at Newsquest Essex, declined to comment further.

He previosuly told HTFP that the company had not imposed a pay freeze for 2012 and that it had been prepared to consider a revised pay claim before the proposed strike action had been called.