Journalists at Independent Newspapers are to hold a mandatory chapel (section) meeting on Thursday to consider industrial action after rejecting management's latest offer on pay. It is thought the National Union of Journalists may advocate refusal to co-operate with the transfer of printing and distribution to a new £40-million plant in City West, Dublin, next month.
Staff voted by 107 to 92 to reject the latest offer. A further 37 spoilt their ballots. There was some criticism of voting procedures but the effect is thought to have merely reduced the overall size of the No vote.
The company has offered to accelerate the phasing out of a two-tier pay system, which leaves newer staff on a lower scale. But it has refused to eliminate it completely, as sought by the NUJ. The difference in pay differentials is 11 per cent.
The chapel is also seeking productivity-based pay increases for the changes caused by the City West development. The company is offering only the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Both sides have been unable to agree improvements to the pension scheme, especially on the vexed issue of indexation, which journalists do not have at present. The company has now offered a £1,000 lump sum to each journalist, which can be invested in the pension scheme tax free. However, this is seen as much too low by journalists.
The father (chairman) of the chapel, Mr Kevin Moore, described the latest management offer as "totally unrealistic". The human resources director, Mr Declan Carlisle, said he was disappointed the latest offer had been rejected and the company remained available for talks at the Labour Relations Commission.