STAFF AT the Drogheda Independent group of newspapers have voted for strike action in support of five colleagues who have been made redundant or placed on a three-day week.
The five workers, who are members of the Unite trade union, have given two weeks notice of industrial action.
The union said the industrial action could halt production of the Drogheda Independent, Dundalk Argusand the Fingal Independentin the first week of October.
The group is owned by Independent News and Media.
In a statement yesterday, Unite said that five employees, all women who work in administration and sales, were called in by management of Independent News and Media and told that two were to be made redundant and three others were to have their working week reduced by 40 per cent with immediate effect.
"They were also told to make themselves available five days a week as cover but with no compensation paid unless they were called upon," the union stated.
Unite said 90 per cent of its members voted for industrial action.
Unite regional organiser Claire Keane said feelings were running high over the treatment of workers who between them had over 70 years of service.
"Over 250 jobs have been shed by Independent News and Media over the last two years, mostly through outsourcing of different functions from accounting to production and subediting.
"Every time we turn a corner, there appears to be another sucker punch waiting," Ms Keane said.
A spokesman for Independent News and Media said a redundancy programme was needed because of the economic downturn.
He said the company had held discussions with the union in July and decided to minimise the number of job losses to two, with three other staff being placed on a three-day week.
He said there was no question of staff on the three-day week having to be on standby on other days.
The company spokesman said the company had agreed to keep the situation under review over the next three months.
He said that if an improvement in the economic situation emerged, additional roles for the people concerned could be found.
The spokesman said that the company was commited to ensuring that there was no disruption to production of the newspapers.
The union denied that there had been any consultation with it in July over the company's plans for redundancies.