JOURNALISTS on the Newcastle Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun are balloting for industrial action because the company refuses to go to the conciliation service Acas over pay.
About 20 journalists have been made redundant at the Newcastle papers, part of Trinity Mirror, among 1,000 job losses nationwide.
The group has also pegged pay rises at two per cent, although trainees are being offered three per cent.
Last year, the management at Newcastle and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) signed a partnership agreement which allows disputes to be resolved with the help of Acas.
A statement from the NUJ said: "NUJ members at Newcastle Chronicle and Journal believe industrial action is not in the interests of the company, and they hope the management will reconsider their refusal to allow Acas to be called in to help come to an agreement."
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