Newspapers' staff vote for strike action

UNION members at the Herald and Evening Times newspapers have voted to take industrial action over job losses.

It comes after about a dozen staff at the Glasgow-based titles were told their jobs are to be made redundant.

The National Union of Journalists said more than 150 of its members were balloted, with 78 per cent voting in favour of strike action at the start of the new year.

The Herald and Times Group has said "a small number" of newspaper staff would lose jobs to cut costs.

The NUJ said a work to rule would begin on 3 January, with a 48-hour strike to follow on 6 and 7 January.

Six voluntary redundancy applications were accepted at the Newsquest-owned titles, but some compulsory redundancies are also being made. This process will be completed by the end of the year.

The company said the process involved fewer than 20 staff in marketing, operations and editorial.