Labour Court backs NUJ over pensions

The Labour Court has found against a decision by regional newspaper employers to close a pension scheme that benefited workers in 27 local papers.

The Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland decided last February to end the journalists' defined benefit scheme, which guaranteed a pension equivalent of up to two-thirds of salary on retirement, to be replaced by a defined contribution scheme, which would not carry a guaranteed final payment.

Following the unilateral decision, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members voted by an 82 per cent majority to strike.

The action was averted when both sides agreed last March to enter into talks at the Labour Relations Commission. However, no agreement was reached and the dispute was referred to the Labour Court.

In its recommendation yesterday, the court said it was "not convinced" by employers' arguments that the defined benefits scheme was financially unsustainable.