The Irish Independent chapel (section) of the National Union of Journalists is meeting today to discuss the Labour Court recommendation on its pay claim. The court is understood to have rejected any pay rise above the terms provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Instead it has proposed the 223 staff journalists should receive lump sums of £2,000 each, plus another £1,000 a year after the terms are accepted. Forty freelance journalists would receive pro rata payments, based on the hours worked under their contracts of employment.
The chapel has already secured elimination of an 11 per cent pay differential between staff recruited before and after the new technology agreement 10 years ago, plus indexation of pensions. However the cap on indexation is only two per cent. Pay was the main outstanding issue in the new agreement.
The NUJ's national organiser, Mr Seamus Dooley, said last night he expected the chapel to ballot on the proposals. They have proven divisive. After the report on the Labour Court recommendation the chapel agm is due, with "pro" and "anti" agreement candidates running for most positions.