Journalists at the State's regional newspapers have voted unanimously in favour of a Labour Court ruling preventing the winding up for their pension scheme.
Des Fagan of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called on the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI) to accept last week's ruling after ballot results were made known today.
Journalist voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action after the RNAI sought to wind up its defined-benefit pension scheme and replace with a defined benefit scheme. Journalist sources insisted the scheme was not in deficit.
The Labour Court last week found the scheme did not need to be replaced and recommended employers increase their contribution to 15.2 per cent and employees to 8.5 per cent.
Mr Fagan said: "The strong mandate for industrial action and the subsequent acceptance of the Labour Court recommendation reflects a strong commitment to protect the pension scheme in the face of a concerted campaign by employers to undermine the pensions of a group of dedicated journalists, many of whom have given many years local service to the local newspaper sector."
There had been fractious exchanges throughout the year between the union and the RNAI, which includes some of the biggest media groups in the State such Independent News & Media, Johnson Press and Thomas Crosbie Holdings.
Mr Fagan today also welcomed the Labour Court's recommendation that some members who had been excluded from the scheme should be allowed join.
"This is a welcome judgement and sets a headline for other schemes," Mr Fagan said.