The Coleraine Chronicle and Northern Constitution voted 87.5 per cent in favour of strike action while union members in the other titles voted 100 per cent in favour, says the NUJ.
Nicola Coleman, NUJ Irish organiser said: "Alpha is renowned for being one of the lowest paying media companies in Northern Ireland and is widely regarded as breaking up the NUJ’s sector based collective agreement for journalists in regional newspapers. The results of this are clear; more than 30 per cent of journalists employed by the company are earning just a Living Wage, in many cases despite years of service.
"Our members see the link between trade union recognition, bargaining rights and decent pay. They recognise that their current situation is a direct result of their employer smashing the previous collective agreement and they are determined to fight for a union recognition agreement and a collectively agreed incremental salary scale that is fair."
According to the NUJ, the ballot took place following talks at the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland where management refused to sign a voluntary trade recognition agreement and declined to put a formal offer to the union to address the claim for a collectively-agreed pay scale. The company refused to disclose information requested by the union for the purposes of collective bargaining and the NUJ is confident that Alpha Newspapers can afford the unions claim for a 14.5 per cent pay rise.
The NUJ dramatically increased its membership in Alpha Newspapers in recent months from an initial membership level of 29 per cent of eligible members to more than 85 per cent. For the first time in years, says the union, the NUJ has the collective strength and the determination of the members to make a difference and to fight for fairness in one of the lowest paying newspaper groups in the country. Their demands are simple: fairness, respect and a collective voice at work.
