Journalists at the Examiner newspaper in Cork are being balloted on industrial action in a dispute over the dismissal of a journalist. The ballot is expected to be completed by Wednesday of next week.
The management has dismissed Mr Eddie Lyons, a former editor of the Evening Echo and currently the pictures and imaging editor.
The NUJ's national organiser, Ms Patsi Dunne, said management had not been available for a meeting so the union had decided to ballot for industrial action up to and including strike.
The human resources manager for the newspaper group, Mr Anthony Dinan, said he had let the NUJ know he was available to talk with the national organiser, over the telephone, at any time over the weekend.