Drogheda Independent workers vote to strike

Workers at the Drogheda Independent Group have voted for strike action in support of five colleagues who have been made redundant or had their hours reduced.

The workers, members of the Unite trade union, have given two weeks notice of their intention to take industrial action which they say could halt production of the Drogheda Independent, Dundalk Argus and Fingal Independent during the first week of October.

The workers, all women, were called in by management of Independent News and Media three weeks ago.

The union says that two were informed their jobs were redundant and three others were told their working week was being reduced by 40% with immediate effect.

A ballot of Unite members at the group was undertaken over the last 10 days and has resulted in a 90% vote in favour of industrial action, the union said today.

"Feelings are running high over the treatment of workers who between them have put over 70 years service into the paper," said Unite Regional Organiser Claire Keane, announcing the result of the ballot in Drogheda this morning.

"Over 250 jobs have been shed by Independent News and Media over the last two years, mostly through outsourcing of different functions from accounting to production and sub-editing. Every time we turn a corner there appears to be another sucker punch waiting…"