Kerryman newspaper seeking redundancies

MANAGEMENT at The Kerryman newspaper in Tralee is seeking a substantial number of redundancies among its 80-plus staff, mainly in production areas.

The Kerryman is the flagship in the Irish Independent-owned regional newspaper group, but is believed to have lost some lucrative outside printing contracts.

It is understood that staff in the printing and binding departments are being offered redundancy terms, but such offers are not being made to the advertising and editorial departments.

A preliminary meeting between management and some unions was held on Monday and another has been arranged for next Tuesday.

Chief executive of the Independent’s regional newspaper group, Ger Walsh, yesterday declined to disclose their plans.

Redundancies and early retirements have brought about a big reduction in staff numbers at the paper in recent years.

There has also been speculation that the printing of the newspaper could be outsourced.