Irish Times staff accept restructuring

Irish Times staff have voted overwhelmingly to accept a radical restructuring deal that will reduce operating costs by €22

Irish Times staff have voted overwhelmingly to accept a radical restructuring deal that will reduce operating costs by €22.25 million a year and shed 250 of the 710 jobs.

However, votes on specific work practice changes in some areas were much tighter, particularly among craftworkers required to move to the company's new printing plant at Citywest.

Today the board is expected to endorse the deal following the counting of votes by unions yesterday. Major changes in corporate governance, such as the establishment of an independent remuneration committee for senior executives and greater transparency in appointments, are being introduced.

The company has also agreed to appoint "a prominent person" reflective of the Irish trade union movement's interests to the board of the Irish Times Limited, in consultation with Irish Times union representatives, as well as introducing a works council immediately, three years ahead of the deadline set for private-sector companies in the new EU directive.

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Yesterday the workforce voted by what the chairman of the group of unions, Mr John White, described as "a decisive majority" to accept all aspects of the restructuring package. This follows intensive negotiations between unions and management, which concluded at 3 a.m. yesterday in the case of some staff transferring to the company's new plant at Citywest.

The Citywest agreement was essential to the cost-cutting scheme and amounts of up to €33,500 will be paid to staff making the transfer. Three years ago Irish Independent printers were paid around £30,000 to make a similar move to its Citywest plant, but in this case the payments are not only significantly lower but will be phased in over two years. Nor will staff be able to opt for a return to head office, except in the unlikely event of short-term vacancies arising. In return staff moving to Citywest have agreed to wide-ranging changes in work practices.

Although the vote in favour of the local agreement on Citywest is reported to have been very tight, there were more comfortable margins on votes for changes in work practices among other staff.

On the two global issues of the voluntary severance package and reforms in corporate governance, including staff representation on the Irish Times Ltd board, there were large majorities.

Of 538 employees who voted on changes in corporate governance, only 47 rejected the proposals. Almost all of those voting against the proposals were journalists who did not believe the reforms went far enough.

Some 528 staff voted for the voluntary severance/early retirement package, and only 19 voted against. Lump sums under the package are capped at 117 weeks' pay, which would amount to over €100,000 for a senior staff journalist with long service.

The director of human resources, Mr Michael Austen, welcomed the outcome of the ballots last night and thanked trade union representatives for their efforts. While he would not pre-empt the outcome of today's board meeting he said "there will be a lot of relief at what has been achieved and a feeling that now we can move ahead positively".

He said interest in the voluntary severance/early retirement package was "very healthy".