Express Newspapers strike

Express journalists want to negotiate over Express Newspapers’ 3% offer and win an-above inflation increase, but the claim the company does not want to talk Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

The headquarters of Northern & Shell, Express Newspapers' parent company, on Lower Thames Street reportedly cost proprietor Richard Desmond £40m. The company moved there in 2004 Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

Northern & Shell HQ houses Express Newspapers and Desmond's stable of gossip magazines: OK!, New and Star. The Latin motto, 'Forti Nihil Difficile', translates as 'For the brave, nothing is difficult' Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

Striking journalists this morning included, second from the left, NUJ president and Express chapel representative Michelle Stanistreet, and, far right, Daily Star chapel representative Steve Usher Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

Staff at the Sunday Express, Daily Express, Daily Star Sunday and Daily Star have all gone on strike Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

Today’s strike is the first of three 24-hour strikes planned - the first for national newspapers since a Telegraph strike in 1990 Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

An impeccably-suited security guard stood watch at the main entrance to the Northern & Shell, which is home to a number of tenants as well as Richard Desmond's newspapers and magazines Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

Striking journalists did not impede staff entering the building, and distributed protest leaflets to them Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk

The strike gained substantial media attention, all part of the NUJ desire to publicise the pay dispute Photograph: Stephen Brook/guardian.co.uk