A pay dispute which prompted journalists at a regional publisher to threaten industrial action has been resolved.

National Union of Journalists members at Reach plc have accepted a 4pc salary increase after previously dubbing the offer “unacceptable”.

Reach offered the 4pc increase for NUJ members earning less than £60,000 per year, while those earning more than that were offered an increase of £1,000.

The company claimed in May it would be unable to offer an across-the-board increase without funding it from “painful editorial savings elsewhere”, prompting the union to consult with members over possible industrial action.

Speaking at the time, NUJ newspapers organiser Laura Davison, pictured, said union reps had described the offer as “divisive”.

She added: “It was therefore the unanimous view of the group chapel that the updated offer is unacceptable.”

However, the offer has now been accepted, albeit with some reluctance on the part of the Reach NUJ Group Chapel.

It wrote to members on Wednesday 26 July informing them that it “feels it has little option in all circumstances but to accept most reluctantly, collectively, the 4% on the table” for those on £60,000 and below.”

In a statement, the NUJ said: “After extensive consultation with members over the last two months, the Reach NUJ Group Chapel met at the end of last month and voted to accept the company’s offer with huge reluctance.

“Members have suffered from the turbulence within the business this year and a period of stabilisation is now needed to remove the uncertainty surrounding jobs and to ensure workloads are reasonable.

“On pay, we go again next year but will now be working hard with the company to establish a new career progression framework to set transparent pay for Reach journalists.”

A Reach spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have come to an agreement with the NUJ on this year’s pay review and would like to reiterate our thanks to our valued employees for their hard work and commitment.”