INDUSTRIAL ACTION is threatened from Friday at the Western Peoplein Ballina, Co Mayo, a leading provincial newspaper.
The dispute follows the dismissal of two long-standing employees for refusing to move from the paper's head office in Ballina to advertising positions in Castlebar and Claremorris.
Members of the Unite trade union at the newspaper's offices in Ballina and Castlebar voted overwhelmingly last week for industrial action.
Management of the paper, which is part of the Thomas Crosbie Group, have placed the entire workforce on protective notice. It has called on the trade union to meet without preconditions. Union leaders are refusing to meet management until the dismissal notices are lifted.