Johannesburg - There is an opportunity for more pay talks between Sekunjalo Independent Media (SIM) and three trade unions, Independent Newspapers CEO Tony Howard said on Tuesday.
"We are aware of the dispute.... They [the unions] have notified us. We have noted their concerns raised," he said.
"However, it is premature for us to make any further statements, as we do see an opportunity for further constructive dialogue between the parties to resolve the issue."
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union, the Media Workers' Association of SA and the SA Typographical Union said on Friday they had declared and referred a dispute to the Printing, Newspapers and Packaging Industry (PNPI) statutory council.
They said this was after parties failed to agree on the 2013/14 wage improvement levels.
"Workers have unanimously rejected the below CPI [Consumer Price Index] offer made by SIM management and will now have to rely on the urgent and necessary intervention by the PNPI to avoid possible industrial action."