Independent journalists are being asked to take pay cuts of as much as half their current salaries if they transfer to the digital operation once the daily print title closes this weekend.

More than 100 journalists out of a total of 160 are expected to lose their jobs once the Independent print business is wound up following the closure of the two newspapers and sale of the i.

The last issue of the Independent on Sunday was published this weekend after the announcement in February that its owner, ESI Media, was closing the print editions.

The company said it would create 25 new jobs at the online-only Independent, and a further 34 editorial roles would transfer to Johnston Press as part of the regional publisher’s acquisition of the i. The remaining journalists are expected to take voluntary redundancy.

Key columnists including Robert Fisk, Simon Calder and Patrick Cockburn are expected to continue writing under contract for the online-only Independent, but the Guardian understands senior journalists are being asked to accept huge pay cuts and significantly worse conditions to stay on.

Journalists are also understood to be concerned about being forced to focus on the quantity of articles published in the digital-only operation run by editor Christian Broughton. Staff representation also remains an issue, as the Independent’s management have previously resisted attempts to unionise the digital operation.

In a statement the National Union of Journalists said the switch to digital was being “made on the cheap”.

The NUJ national organiser, Laura Davison, said: “The pay and conditions on the digital side are worse than on the print side. Experienced staff are being lost because of low budgets and current digital staff have concerns about pay, workloads and other issues.

“This will surely have an effect on the quality of the product. To succeed it will have to invest in journalism and there are few signs that this is part of the plan.”

Separately, the NUJ has also called on Johnston Press to ensure that pay and conditions are protected for journalists joining the company from the Independent after the publisher announced an increase in profits due to cost-cutting.

A spokesperson said: “Despite Johnston Press cutting back on regional and local papers it was still able to find £25m to buy the i. Company shareholders have now approved the sale and jobs are being offered to people at the Independent. The NUJ is seeking assurances that staff pay and terms will be securely protected as people take up the new jobs.”