Journalists at Telegraph Media Group are heading for a dispute with management over new working conditions at the media group.

The problems centre around plans to create 40 new full-time positions. National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members are concerned about the axing of casual staff which is also being implemented.

Many of the casual workers will not be offered new full- or part-time jobs - and currently those who have been regular freelances for a year or more are not expected to be offered redundancy pay-offs.

Executive director editorial Richard Ellis, who is negotiating with the union, has said in a letter to casuals that it would be "advisable for those applying for jobs with us to take steps to seek work at other establishments".

The paper's NUJ chapel has also questioned plans to scrap the nine-day fortnight - and make it 10 days - for 65 production journalists in exchange for a one-off payment of £2,000.

Source: Press Gazette