Journalists are set to vote on possible strike action over cuts at a regional publisher.

The National Union of Journalists has revealed to its members at Reach plc that it will hold a consultative ballot about both potential strike action and action short of strike.

It comes after Reach last week placed 426 journalists at risk of redundancy, with 192 roles in total set to be cut.

The move prompted the NUJ to pass a vote of no confidence in the publisher’s executives on Friday, but the union is now going a step further in its action against the cuts.

In a letter to members at Reach, which has been seen by HTFP, NUJ national organiser Laura Davison said: “Whilst the NUJ will continue to engage with the company and seek to protect members’ jobs, at the group chapel meeting, reps agreed to consult members over whether they would be prepared to take industrial action over these job cuts if required.

“We are therefore moving to a consultative ballot to ask whether you would be prepared to support strike action and/or action short of a strike.

“This vote is non-binding, but it will give the union a good indication of what our next steps might be.

“A vote that indicates you would be prepared to take action, does not mean that action will follow. The union would be obliged to carry out a formal postal ballot of any members proposed to be included in any industrial action.”

The NUJ previously said 150 of the redundancies will take place across Reach’s Live network of regional news titles, its In Your Area hyperlocal network and its central and customer teams, with 355 staff working in those departments being put at risk.

Laura, pictured, further confirmed in her letter that 31 digital sport journalists are under threat, with 17 jobs set to go, while 20 roles in Scotland and Ireland are at risk in plans to make 12 redundancies.

High-profile departures from Reach since the cuts plan was announced include Hull Daily Mail and Grimsby Telegraph editor Jamie Macaskill, Teesside Gazette editor Ian McNeal, Adam Moss, who edits the Leicester Mercury, Coventry Telegraph and Northants Live, Burton Mail editor Julie Crouch and Nottingham Post content editor Michael Broomhead.

Alison Gow, the company’s interim audience and content director for video and audio, also announced she was leaving the day before the proposals were revealed.

HTFP also revealed Dorset Live and Wiltshire Live are to be left with one reporter each as a result of the cuts, with seven staff across the two titles being placed at risk of redundancy.

A Reach spokesperson said: “Discussions are ongoing with the unions and we remain committed to fully engaging in this process and working together to support impacted people.”

The NUJ has declined to comment further at this stage.