LRC averts regional press strikes

EMPLOYEES of 27 regional newspapers have shelved plans to strike this weekend. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) confirmed yesterday that the strike action had been averted following the conclusion on Tuesday of their conciliation meeting at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) with the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI) in a dispute over pensions.

The RNAI has agreed to resume contributions to the national defined benefit pensions scheme, which it had planned to wind up.

Some 27 member titles including The Western People, The Kerryman, The Connacht Tribune and The Drogheda Independent had voted for a three-day strike, to begin on March 18.