'Independent' management says it will withdraw €17m package

Management at Independent Newspapers (Ireland) has told journalists who earlier this week rejected plans to contract-out editorial production work, that unless they change their minds the company would press ahead with the changes and the redundancy package that had been offered would be withdrawn.

The company had put forward a voluntary redundancy package offering eight weeks pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of €250,000, as part of its plan to contract out sub-editing and page layout functions to a new company, RE and D Ltd, based in Dublin.

The plan to contract out production was expected to lead to 34 job losses through voluntary redundancies, but it is understood that the final figure could be significantly higher.

A ballot on the offer resulted in National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members rejecting the plan by 102 votes to 99.

In a letter sent to all NUJ members at the newspaper on Thursday, and to the Irish secretary of the union, Séamus Dooley, the company's human resources manager Declan Carlyle said non-implementation of the editorial plan was not an option. There could be "no U-turn".

"I have to inform you that unless there is a collective indication by April 27th next that the editorial plan will be implemented in accordance with the protocols, the cash provision of €17.1 million made available will be withdrawn.

"It will remain for us to proceed to implement the plan, but with funds no longer available, we would be left solely with statutory obligations.

"In accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006, those whose duties are affected by the transfer of functions will only have the choice to transfer with their functions to the third-party supplier," he says.

"In the absence of a positive response, this transfer process will commence May 14th, 2007.

"I would therefore urge you to reflect on the gravity of the situation and in doing so reconsider the company's proposal."

A source within the NUJ chapel at the company said members were "angry" about the letter. Séamus Dooley described the tone of the letter as "threatening". In a response to Mr Carlyle, Mr Dooley said he wished to "formally record my dismay at the threatening tone of your correspondence, which is clearly designed to intimidate our members."

He said that while the NUJ understood the company's disappointment at the rejection, "we are unable to bend the procedures of this union to facilitate a desired outcome".

Mr Dooley and NUJ representatives at the Independent are due to meet management on the situation on Monday.