A plan by Independent Newspapers to outsource some production jobs to external contractors has been rejected by members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the company.
A statement from the NUJ said the plan, which included a voluntary redundancy package, was rejected by 102 votes to 99.
The NUJ's Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley said there was an 80 per cent turnout in the ballot of all members, "reflecting widespread concern at the plan to outsource editorial production jobs to external contractors".
"The company put forward a voluntary redundancy package which would be judged generous by any standards - eight weeks pay per year of service up to a maximum of €250,000," he said.
Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary
"The proposal put to members also contained a commitment to offering permanent posts to more than 90 contract or freelance staff. While these proposals were attractive to groups of workers the central plank of the Editorial Development Plan is the outsourcing of highly skilled editorial jobs and that is clearly unacceptable to the NUJ.
"The plan to outsource subediting and layout functions strikes at the heart of newspaper production and many members are unconvinced by the assurances received by management in relation to editorial quality and independence," Mr Dooley added.
"We now expect management to accept the outcome of the ballot and to respect the decision of the NUJ chapel."