Irish journalists plan to strike

Journalists at five Irish titles owned by Johnston Press are planning to strike over threatened redundancies. The National Union of Journalists says industrial action will begin next Tuesday with a one-day stoppage at the Limerick Leader , the Leinster Leader , the Leinster Express , the Offaly Express and the Clonmel Nationalist . Its members are protesting at job losses arising from a new ATEX editorial production system, which the union claims will undermine editorial quality. Some 29 job cuts have been proposed as a result of the new system, which Johnston's management believe will negate the need for sub-editors. Nicola Coleman , the NUJ's Irish organiser, said: "This strike is about protecting employment but it is also about defending journalistic standards. "The experience of this union in the UK is that the new system and reduced staffing levels have led to chaos – the results have been disastrous publications." Talks between the NUJ and Johnston Press are scheduled to take place in Naas tomorrow. Sources: NUJ/ Limerick Leader / Midlands103