'Examiner' journalists ballot on strike

The 180 journalists working on the Irish Examiner and Cork Evening Echo could be set to strike or take some other form of industrial action in their pursuit of a pay claim against the companies which publish both papers.

Editorial staff at Examiner Publications (Cork) and Echo Publications (Cork) recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion instructing the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), to begin the process of balloting its members at the two companies to take industrial action in pursuit of the claim.

It is understood that the NUJ's national executive council is likely to sanction holding the ballot at a meeting over the next week. Balloting the papers' staff is likely to begin subsequent to that. The vote could result in a strike or some other form of industrial action.

The NUJ and management representatives are due before the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on November 19th to discuss the pay claim. The union is seeking an 8 per cent pay increase over three years, with the award structured in favour of lower-paid workers. The ballot's outcome is not likely to be known by the hearing.

SIPTU, Amicus-MSF and the Graphical Paper Media Union (GPMU) are also pursuing a joint claim against the companies. They are seeking 7 per cent over 18 months.

The companies originally offered them 2 per cent a year for three years but has since revised this to 3 per cent a year for two years and 2.5 per cent for the third year. That issue is also due to go to the LRC on November 19th, but it is understood that the three unions and management could meet before that date.

The newspaper publishers have told unions that they are not bound by national pay deals. However, the SIPTU/Amicus-MSF/GPMU claim is based on the current agreement, Sustaining Progress.

Some 460 editorial, print, sales and craft workers have taken pay claims against the companies. The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union is also seeking a pay rise for its members. All parties have been negotiating since last year. A spokesman for the newspaper group refused to comment last night.

Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd is the Examiner group's ultimate parent. According to the latest available figures, Examiner Publications' wage bill came to €17.27 million in 2001. In the same year, it made €5 million profit on €50 million turnover.