Management on the new national Sunday newspaper, /Ireland on Sunday/, which was launched in September 1997, are refusing to negotiate a collective agreement with over 30 members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). It is the first time that a national newspaper in Ireland has refused to negotiate such an agreement, although management is recognising the right of journalists - as individuals - to be members of the NUJ.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ireland faces a major test from the launch in September 1997 a new national Sunday newspaper, which is refusing to negotiate a collective agreement with the union. The NUJ is also under pressure within the independent radio sector where it has failed to negotiate more than a handful of agreements.
Management on the new national Sunday newspaper, Ireland on Sunday, which was launched in September 1997, are refusing to negotiate a collective agreement with over 30 members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). It is the first time that a national newspaper in Ireland has refused to negotiate such an agreement, although management is recognising the right of journalists - as individuals - to be members of the NUJ.
The new paper is employing a mixture of full-time and contract journalists with contacts being negotiated on an individual basis. All of Ireland's other main titles - such as the Sunday Independent, the Irish Independent, the Sunday Tribune, the Irish Times, the Examiner and the Sunday Business Post- have collective agreements with the NUJ. The union is fearful that the approach being adopted by Ireland on Sunday could eventually undermine its position within the newspaper industry generally.
The NUJ in Ireland is effectively a division of the UK-based NUJ in London. It has 3,000 members in the Republic but has resisted calls from some members to affiliate to an Irish-based union. British-based unions represent around 15% of the unionised workforce in the Republic, a legacy of the country's former status as a British colony.
The NUJ is under even more pressure in the commercial independent radio sector where it has secured union recognition in just three local radio stations out of the 21 which are licensed throughout the country. Meanwhile, local newspaper owners feel they are being placed at a competitive disadvantage as they have traditionally recognised the union and negotiated collective agreements. The local papers and the radio stations compete for the same advertising revenue.
A further indication of change in the industrial relations balance within the media was demonstrated in August 1997 when members of the SIPTU union in the national broadcasting station, RTE, voted to reject proposed terms and conditions for the operation of a new breakfast television service later in the year. RTE wants to put the proposed new service out to tender to the independent production sector, though it would provide staff, production facilities and studios.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1997), Journalists' union under pressure, article.
