Staff at the Irish Examinerand Evening Echonewspapers have been told by the company that it may be necessary to put them on protective notice if they go ahead with planned industrial action.
The National Union of Journalists served strike notice on the company last week over a pay claim which has been rejected.
The action is due to commence on Monday, but it has not yet been decided what form it will take.
Sources at the company said the letters received by staff today, which also informed them that their pay claim is not viable, came as no surprise.
Management at Thomas Crosbie Holdings, which owns the two titles, has been condemned by the NUJ for failing to enter meaningful negotiations on the claim.
Journalists are seeking an 8 per cent pay rise over three years, backdated to January 2003. They also want changes to a pay structure which has left newer members of staff on lower rates since 1995. Some journalists at the papers earn around €24,000, although many earn less. This is well below the industry standard.
The company wants further talks at the Labour Relations Comission in a bid to resolve the dispute.