A regional publisher is facing the prospect of around 1,000 of its journalists going on strike after pay talks broke down.

The National Union of Journalists has submitted a formal notice to ballot its members for industrial action at Reach plc and will encourage its members to vote yes to both strike action and to action short of strikes.

The ballot comes after the union rejected a pay increase offer for Reach employees of 3pc or £750, whichever is more.

NUJ Reach national coordinator Chris Morley described the forthcoming vote as “an unfortunate landmark and one we as a union hoped we would never have to deploy”.

Chris, pictured, said: “A sensible, negotiated settlement would clearly be best not only for our members, but the business too.

“However, journalists’ pay throughout Reach is inadequate for the amazing and crucial work that our members do – especially in midst of runaway inflation that threatens to pauperise many of those stagnating on the lowest pay.

“The 3pc that the company has tabled as their final offer is an insult to our members’ ingenuity and creativity – never mind the damned hard work they do with stressful variable shifts, weekend working and dealing with a, sometimes, hostile and abusive public. It is the crumbs off the table of the company’s millionaires’ board.

“Our members are worth more. We believe the company, for once, must prioritise the workers who are core to its business strategy, rather than the expensive lawyers who are making millions from the phone hacking scandal our members were not culpable for.”

The NUJ says there are currently around 1,000 union members in Reach but the number is “continuing to increase with scores joining since chapels took the decision to reject the offer and move to a ballot.”

Chris urged Reach to give its journalists “salaries that will pay the bills with RPI inflation now past 11pc, not platitudes of thanks from the directors for the great job they do”.

He added: “If a media company such as Reach does not properly value its journalists, why should the news-consuming public? Poorly paid journalists are a sign of failure and feeds instability in the workforce – something we are seeing as good staff vote with their feet in favour of other better paying employers, some even out of the industry altogether.

“We know that a company that gave its chief executive a £4m+ pay package – worth the salaries of 104 median paid Reach employees – can do better than a bare £750 payment to the lowest paid staff. That alone will get swallowed up by the rise of the energy price cap in the autumn.

“How do the board members think their journalists reporting on the effects of the cost of living on ordinary working people can do so with credibility, while they themselves are made to struggle by their bosses’ indifference to uncompetitive pay?

“And the same thing applies when important stories of outrageous boardroom excesses – at the expense of their workers – are covered yet the very same thing is happening close to home.

“Our members have turned to a ballot for industrial action in desperation at the intransigence of the company.

“But there is still time for sense to break out. We call on senior management to think more positively about what their journalists bring to the business and get round the table for proper negotiations in the context of the UK’s worst cost of living crisis in 40 years.”

In a message to Reach staff on Wednesday, group HR director Julia Warren wrote: “We recognise that lots of our people are frustrated at not having received their increase, and as I hope you know, we’re committed to finding a resolution as soon as we can.

“We’ve been in touch with the NUJ today and suggested we involve ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, an independent service supporting mediation and workplace resolution) in a discussion, where we want to table new ideas to help us reach an agreement.

“We’re pleased to let you know the NUJ has agreed to that meeting and we’re hoping it will take place next week. We will of course keep you updated on the meeting and its outcomes.

“We’re working hard to resolve this issue for our people and appreciate your support.”

A spokesperson for the company previously said: “Our people are vital to Reach’s continued success and we greatly value our relationships with our journalists.

“Our priority must be to protect jobs by ensuring the group has a sustainable future in the face of unprecedented newsprint cost inflation and an uncertain economic backdrop.”