Journalists at dozens of Ireland's best-known regional newspapers are to vote for the second time this year on whether to strike over a pensions dispute, it emerged today.
The Irish Executive Council of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has recommended its members vote in favour of industrial action within the coming days.
The row was triggered by moves in February of this year by employers group the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI) to wind up a journalists pension scheme. The existing plan includes a guarantee equivalent of up to two-thirds of salary on retirement.
The newspaper owners group wanted to replace the scheme with a new contribution-based plan with no guarantee of a final payment. Union members balloted at 27 newspapers throughout the State voted by an 82 per cent majority for three-day strike action in March of this year.
However the walkout was narrowly averted when the RNAI granted a stay of execution on the plans and action was called off pending a Labour Court ruling. That recommendation was favourable to the journalists, calling for an increase in the employer and employee contribution to 15.2 per cent and 8.5 per cent respectively.
According to the NUJ, the newspaper owners would only accept the ruling on condition the pension scheme would be closed to new members of staff. Union leaders wouldn't accept the proposals and issued ballot papers, recommending a vote for strike action, after talks broke down. The votes are to be counted on November 23rd.
If strike action goes ahead several of the country's best-known regional newspapers are likely to be seriously disrupted.
The action would affect Johnston Press titles, including the Donegal Democrat, Limerick Leader and Leinster Leader and Independent News and Media owned newspapers, including the People series as well as the Drogheda Independent, Dundalk Argus and Kerryman.
NUJ Irish organiser Des Fagan said: "We are going to do everything in our power to get the employers to accept the Labour Court ruling."í