MEMBERS of the National Union of Journalists at Newsquest North-East, publisher of The Northern Echo and its sister titles, went on strike yesterday and will continue their action today.

A Newsquest statement said: “At a time when all businesses and organisations are working hard to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, we have proposed some changes which may result in seven posts (from a department of 90 people) being made redundant.

Consultations over these proposed changes have not yet been concluded, but all efforts are being made to minimise compulsory redundancies and we therefore believe the union’s actions to be unnecessary and premature.

The company has offered to increase pay in the North-East editorial department by two per cent in 2011, an increase which in the current financial climate we believe to be fair and reasonable.”