Talks aimed at averting a strike at regional newspapers over a planned change in journalists' pension cover will get underway today at the Labour Relations Commission.
Notice of a three-day strike, to begin this Sunday, has been served on the newspapers concerned.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members at 27 newspapers voted by an 82 per cent majority to strike over a unilateral decision by employers to close their pension scheme.
The dispute was triggered by a decision of the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI) last month to end the journalists' defined benefit scheme, which guarantees a pension equivalent to up to two-thirds of salary on retirement.
It is to be replaced by a defined contribution scheme, which would not carry a guaranteed final payment.