A strike at 27 regional newspapers has been averted following talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
The Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ)concluded the talks at midnight with employers lifting their threat to wind up a defined benefit pension scheme and the union lifting a threat of a strike while discussions continue.
A defined benefit scheme guarantees a pension equivalent to up to two-thirds of salary on retirement. But the RNAI planned to replace such a scheme with a defined contribution scheme, which would not carry a guaranteed final payment.
NUJ members in 27 newspapers had voted by an 82 per cent majority to strike over the decision by employers to close the scheme. Notice of a three-day strike, due to begin on Sunday, was then served on the newspapers concerned.
During last night's talks union and management representatives agreed on a three-month timeframe for the conclusion of discussions on pensions.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said: "We are happy that the current threat to the pension scheme has been lifted. Our members were enraged by the unilateral decision to wind up the scheme and by the RNAI insistence that they would not attend the LRC.
"We now wish to sit down with the employers, under the auspices of the LRC, to discuss a range of issues relating to the pension scheme.
Production of a number of the country's best-known newspaper titles was likely to be seriously disrupted if a strike went ahead.
All of the titles published by Independent Newspapers and Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH), as well as most of those owned by Johnston Press, would have been affected.
Independent owns People newspapers in Wexford as well as the Drogheda Independent, Dundalk Argus and Kerryman. TCH publishes the Nationalist papers in Carlow, Kildare and Laois as well as the Western People and Waterford News & Star. Johnston Press titles include the Limerick Leader, Leinster Leader and Donegal Democrat.
