SIPTU members at the Midland Radio Group Ltd's three offices in Longford, Cavan and Monaghan have served strike notice from the end of the working day on Friday unless the company agrees to negotiate over pay and working conditions.
According to SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Maurice Hearne, the company adopted a similar position to TV3, saying it does not have a problem with staff joining a union, but does not recognise them for collective bargaining purposes.
SIPTU has been seeking formal recognition since May at the company, which trades as Shannonside/Northern Sound. SIPTU claims to have recruited a third of staff, ranging from presenters to technical, sales and administrative staff.
A large number of staff at a rival station, Midland Radio 3, have joined SIPTU in a separate development. These are employed in Tullamore, Mullingar, Athlone and Portlaoise.
Mr Hearne, who represents workers in both companies, said yesterday: "The decision of local radio workers to join SIPTU in such large numbers confirms that managements in both companies have failed completely to listen to their staff and to take action on their concerns and grievances."
SIPTU has withdrawn strike notice at TV3, following the offer of a pay review by management to its employees. The union is reserving the right to re-ballot members if the offer is unsatisfactory.
The company said in a statement yesterday that camera operators did not wish to be represented by SIPTU in talks and had indicated they were content to have any discussions dealt with internally in line with TV3's established in-house procedures.
It is expected to take three or four weeks for the pay review to conclude.