A new deal negotiated for journalists on the Irish Times by the National Union of Journalists includes a family-friendly “term-time” working arrangement.

Journalists with seven years’ service can – if circumstances permit – apply to work nine months of the year for three-quarters of their pay spread over 12 months.

To make more working from home possible, the company is also introducing interest-free loans to help staff buy their own PCs.

Easier job-sharing and paid sabbaticals are also covered in the deal which has been thrashed out in return for NUJ members agreeing to co-operate with the introduction of a new production system.

Jeremy Dear, NUJ national organiser, said: “The Irish Times deal is fairly unique. Wedo have some childcare agreements – more in books and magazines than in newspapers. However more companies are coming to us to talk about “work-life” balance schemes. But these are still very embryonic.”

Negotiations at the Irish Times also secured for staff a pay increase of 5.5 per cent above the national pay agreement, a profit share bonus of £1,200 this year, plus a copyright payment of £450 per year.

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