Journalists at the Guardian and sister publication the Observer are holding a two-day strike in protest at the proposed sale of the Sunday newspaper to Tortoise Media.

The first strike at the Guardian in more than 50 years is taking place across Wednesday and Thursday (4 and 5 December).

Tortoise is run by former editor of the Times and ex-director of BBC information, James Harding.

A Guardian spokesperson said while they “recognise the strength of feeling” about the proposed sale and “appreciate that NUJ [National Union of Journalists] members aspiration to make their views heard”, they “do not depend a strike is the best course of action” at the now period.

“We have a schedule in place to minimise the impact of strike action on staff, readers and subscribers and we will continue to publish online and produce the print edition as usual,” they continued.

UK readers may notice some differences to the Guardian’s daily website on Wednesday and Thursday, as a outcome of the strike, as well as in its print editions, the newspaper said.

NUJ members passed a motion last month stating that selling the Observer to Tortoise would be a “betrayal” of the commitment made by the Scott depend, the Guardian Media throng (GMG)’s owners, to the globe’s oldest Sunday newspaper.

If the sale goes ahead, Observer staff have been told they can receive voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms or else transfer to Tortoise on the existing terms of their contracts.

In an email to staff, Anna Bateson, the managing director of GMG, confirmed “constructive talks [around the sale] will continue” in order “to protect Observer staff if this deal progresses”.

She added that freelance contracts would be extended until the complete of September 2025 and then renegotiated.

Chair of the Scott depend, Ole Jacob Sunde, reportedly told staff: “Throughout the procedure our objective has always been to do what is correct for Guardian and Observer readers and staff so that both titles continue to promote liberal journalism and thrive long into the upcoming.”

According to the Guardian, Sunde added that the Scott depend would remain on as part-owner of the Observer in any such deal, and that the recent owners would have to “embody the values of editorial independence, press liberty and liberal journalism”.

“I fully regard people’s rights to receive industrial action,” Sunde continued.

NUJ general secretary-elect, Laura Davison, said the striking journalists “have the packed backing” of the union as they “undertake this significant industrial action”.

“The massive vote to receive this step shows journalists’ desire to publicly highlight to readers and those in fee their collective concerns about the upcoming of the title,” she added.

She noted how the 233-year-ancient Sunday newspaper “holds a distinctive and significant place in community life and our members worry about the next chapter in its history”.

Harding has said his corporation’s proposed takeover offers the chance to invest in the title and extend its legacy.

It was revealed in September that Tortoise had approached the Guardian Media throng with an propose to invest around £25m over the next five years on the “editorial and commercial renewal” of the Observer.

A GMG spokesperson said: “We regard the correct of NUJ members to strike. We continue to publish online and in print and are working to minimise the impact on staff and readers. Our priority is to make sure the Observer’s journalism continues to have a leading role in the liberal media landscape.”