Management at the Munster Express newspaper in Waterford say they are seeking 11 redundancies as part of major cost-cutting measures. The newspaper employs a total of 24 staff.
Union representatives are to begin immediate talks with management at the paper, which has been operating for 150 years.
The workers include eight in production and printing, all of whose roles would then be outsourced away from Waterford, two in distribution and one in advertising. All are members of the UNITE union.
'The news of the deep cuts was a shocking blow to people who have put their lives into the newspaper,' said UNITE's regional officer Brendan Byrne.
'We recognise that these are difficult times but there are ways that can be explored and implemented to prevent what would tear the heart out of an institution in Waterford,' he added.
He pointed out that earlier this year the union managed to save print and production jobs at the Connaught Telegraph and the Mayo Star where similar outsourcing away from the heartland of the papers was being suggested.
