"We are disappointed at the company's continuing refusal to consider a voluntary redundancy programme as part of any job reduction package and their continuing insistence that compulsory redundancies must remain part of the mix," members of the Thomson Financial News NUJ chapel stated in a letter to management.

“We refute management assertions that journalists across both organisations lack the necessary skills or would be unable to learn the necessary skills to transfer to other posts in the context of the merger and insist that some clarity is given on plans for expansion as the position on this seems to have shifted considerably from David Schlesinger's first address to staff at Thomson Financial News,” NUJ stated in the letter. “We also demand a retraining scheme to give all staff maximum opportunity to realise their potential within the enlarged organisation.”

"Furthermore, we demand that all Reuters editorial managers should be immediately notified that the nine day fortnight and other benefits currently enjoyed by TFN staff have been recognised by David Schlesinger and Mark Sandham as part of our legally binding terms and conditions and that the said managers should refrain from any attempts during job interviews to remove this right,” the letter stated, according to Press Gazette.

The chapel said it has voted “unanimously” to hold industrial action. However, it would still like to return to the negotiating table.

In response to news of the planned strike ballot, Schlesinger, editor-in-chief of Reuters News, said in a statement that "we have only been Thomson Reuters for two weeks now and due to regulatory restrictions it has not been possible to make any decisions on specific staffing needs anywhere in the company, including editorial. Once we have decided what staffing will be necessary and where we will consult with the unions on the best way forward. We are proud of our editorial heritage and remain fully committed to its ongoing success."