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LONDON—Journalists at the Financial Times delayed a potential strike over the paper's final salary pension scheme and called on Nikkei Inc. to resolve the row, just days ahead of the Japanese media group's multibillion-dollar takeover of the British newspaper.

The National Union of Journalists, a labor union for journalists in the U.K. and Ireland, said journalists won't strike on the day of completion of the takeover—earmarked by FT management as November 30—following concessions made to resolve the dispute.

Still, the NUJ said future strike action remains a possibility.

In a statement last month, the NUJ said Nikkei and FT management had failed "to honor promises over maintaining equivalent terms of employment", citing proposals to take at least £ 4 million ($6.10 million) a year from pension funds to pay for rent and other costs.

The NUJ says Nikkei wants to use the money to pay for the running costs of the newspaper's offices at One Southwark Bridge in central London. The offices weren't included as part of the agreement struck between educational products specialist Pearson PLC and Nikkei earlier this year. The $1.32 billion deal will see Nikkei adding the iconic, salmon-colored FT to its stable of assets, which includes Nihon Keizai Shimbun, as well as other publications and broadcasting operations.

Late Thursday, following a meeting of around 100 union representatives and journalists, Steve Bird, head of the FT's NUJ chapel, said he welcomed a proposal to restore £ 4 million to the pension budget for one year, but said a strike remains an option unless a longer-term solution is found.

"Pensions are long-term benefits and we would look to management to come forward with a substantive offer that gives staff the equivalence they were promised at the start of the process," said Mr. Bird.

"In light of the climate of serious mistrust of FT executives over broken promises, we will keep the option of industrial action on the table. We call on Nikkei to join us round the negotiating table as a way of breaking the logjam."

Earlier on Thursday, the NUJ said nearly 92% of staff who participated in the ballot voted in favor of a strike. Turnout was 66%.

A spokeswoman for the FT said: "We are disappointed that the NUJ hasn't agreed to withdraw the threat of industrial action when there are ongoing consultations and sincere efforts to work toward a negotiated agreement under way, including a significantly improved pensions offer to staff."

"While we do not take lightly any discontent amongst our employees, we must find the right balance between individual benefits and the sustainable financial future of the FT, for the benefit of all."

A spokesman for Nikkei said: "Nikkei has not proposed the pension reforms to the FT union and hasn't participated in negotiations with them. The issue is being discussed between FT management and union members, and Nikkei doesn't comment on it."

Around 260 FT journalists are members of the NUJ. There are 484 journalists contracted on U.K. terms, says the FT's NUJ chapel.

Pearson shares rose 1.5% in midafternoon trading.

News Corp, which owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, competes with Pearson's book publishing, business-news and education divisions. News Corp also competes with Nikkei.

Write to Simon Zekaria at simon.zekaria@wsj.com

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 20, 2015 09:05 ET (14:05 GMT)

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