The NUJ has strongly condemned the decision of Independent Newspapers to enforce three redundancies at The Kerryman newspaper in Tralee.
At a meeting with the union yesterday, management announced its intention to make three journalists redundant. The NUJ chapel held an emergency meeting at which management was urged to rescind the decision, which staff say will have a detrimental effect on The Kerryman and Corkman titles.
NUJ Irish Secretary, Séamus Dooley, said the proposed cut represents a 25 per cent reduction in editorial staff.
Séamus said: “This proposal represents a direct attack on the editorial heart of one of the oldest and most significant newspapers in Ireland. The inevitable consequence would be a poorer newspaper, which would not adequately reflect the community life of Kerry.”
He added: “Management has already slashed the editorial budget in news, sport and photographic. A significant number of contributors have been dropped and now the company is seeking to impose statutory redundancy, refusing to discuss the possibility of more favourable terms. At today’s chapel meeting members reminded local management of the enormous contribution made by The Kerryman newspaper to the profitability of Independent News and Media, which this year is projecting profits of €240 million.”
Independent News and Media owns The Kerryman titles.
10 February 2009