Management and unions at The Irish Times have agreed to conclude negotiations on a restructuring deal by February 22nd and employees will finish balloting on the proposals by March 1st. All aspects of the reorganisation are to be in place by July 26th.
Casual staff, including up to 30 people in the editorial area, are likely to be laid off first. This was described in a statement to staff entitled, "The Irish Times Survival Plan: Reorganisation Time Table" as "essential in order to allow us to start the process of reducing costs".
It is also probably intended as a signal that the company is serious about pushing through rationalisation plans to reduce operating costs by €22.25 million a year and cutting 250 jobs from the 710-strong workforce.
The company has given commitments that all agreements will be adhered to in letting go casual, temporary and contract staff.
After apparent deadlock in talks last week, the group of unions and management committed themselves yesterday to structures for negotiations and set targets to conclude various phases of those negotiations.
Discussions on a severance package for permanent staff are to conclude by next Friday, February 1st.
Staff will then be able to apply for redundancy and will be provided with advice on tax, pensions and other financial aspects of the terms.
However, no decisions on applications will be made until ballots have been held on all aspects of the deal.
Talks on reorganisation at the company, including the opening of the new printing plant at Citywest, are set to conclude by February 22nd. Negotiations on changes at local level within each department will take place simultaneously.
A special subcommittee of the Dublin Printing Group of Unions is to meet members of the Irish Times board and the Irish Times Trust on Wednesday to agree a timetable for further talks on the corporate governance of the newspaper.
This is one area where both sides accept significant progress has already been made.