Newsquest has proposed a restructure at its North and East London titles that would result in 12 positions being cut, which union officials claim would put the newspapers at risk, HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk reported Tuesday.

The cut would affect the Waltham Forest Guardian, Wanstead and Woodford Guardian, and Epping Forest Guardian.

“This is a savage cut to the already overworked, stressed and underpaid journalists that work for these titles. Only recently the father of the chapel raised concerns with the MD about journalists' workloads,” Don Mackglew assistant organiser for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), told HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk.

Last week at an NUJ chapel, journalists showed concerns at the submitted cutbacks. Mackglew said the new proposal will hurt the quality of journalism at the titles. The NUJ is having meeting with management to approach the proposals.

Newsquest's group editor, Dan Mason, could not be reached for comment, HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk stated.