Journalists at the Independent Group of newspapers have voted to reject Labour Court proposals to end their dispute over pay, pensions and new work practices. The offer provided for the elimination of a nine-year old pay differential between new recruits and longer-serving staff, the introduction of limited indexation to the pension scheme, lump sums of £2,000 on acceptance of the proposals, and £1,000 12 months later in return for greater flexibility.
The National Union of Journalists chapel rejected the proposals by 122 votes to 75. The chapel officers are meeting management today to discuss the situation.
Neither side wished to make public statements ahead of the meeting. However, the NUJ is likely to tell management that members have already given flexibility and co-operation with new technology on a scale far in excess of the existing agreement, made in 1992, and will revert to a stricter interpretation of the agreement if an improved offer is not forthcoming.
The chapel is seeking a pay rise above the terms of the PPF in return for concessions already given in areas such as pagination of the newspaper and co-operation with the move of print and dispatch operations to the new plant at Citywest. It is also concerned at a provision in the agreement that, where a dispute arises, members would operate new work practices "under protest" while the problem was resolved.
The company is expected to stress the improved pay for newer staff (worth 11 per cent) in the new agreement, the pension improvements, lump sums, longer maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave.