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TDs’ alarm over bogus contracts at RTÉ


Members of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee have raised serious concerns over the plight of workers forced to accept bogus self-employed contracts by RTÉ. Director General Dee Forbes and Director of HR Eimear Cusack were challenged by David Cullinane (SF) and Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy on the high level of workers forced to register as self-employed and therefore denied employment rights. Both TDs echoed the NUJ concern that “forced


freelances” who wish to challenge their employment status are automatically denied the right to trade union representation. Ms Cusack said RTÉ only negotiates with trade unions representing employees. Deputy Cullinane played a recording of Irish


Secretary Séamus Dooley’s interview with Philip Boucher Hayes broadcast on Drivetime last year. In that interview the Irish Secretary said the NUJ were aware of members who wanted to be regarded as employees but were required by RTÉ to declare themselves self-employed. The alternative to signing was no income. In that context, Cullinane asked how RTÉ could


justify not allowing these workers the right to be represented, when well-paid presenters are represented by an agency which negotiates with the company but those on contracts for service have no such access. Ms Cusack was unable to explain why this happens. Ms Forbes conceded there were “issues”, but


the RTÉ team failed to clarify how or why workers doing the same work can be treated differently. Both speakers referred to the ongoing review of


contracts by Eversheds, an external law firm appointed by RTÉ following pressure by the NUJ and the RTÉ Trade Union Group. That report was due in March but will now be published at the end of May. Responding to the PAC debate Séamus Dooley


said: “This was the first time RTÉ appeared before the committee and it was encouraging to see parliamentarians taking such a strong stand on employment rights. Committee members got an insight into the difficulties faced by the NUJ in securing justice for our members who work alongside employees, doing exactly the same job but yet are treated as ‘contractors’ without any objective criteria. “The Evershed report will be the latest in a long


list of reviews,” he said. “At the heart of this problem is a culture rather than a legal issue. RTÉ’s requirement for flexibility does not excuse unacceptable employment practices.”


IN BRIEF NUJ requests Irish


Daily Mail inspection


The NUJ has requested a Workplace Relations Commission inspection of DMG Media Ireland for suspected failure to pay annual leave and public holiday entitlements to part time and casual employees. The company publishes the Irish Daily Mail and Irish Mail on Sunday, as well as a number of web sites. Such inspections do not require individuals be named as complainants by the NUJ or any other representative body. An inspector has been assigned to the case and an outcome is awaited.


Pay and house agreement


talks to restart Negotiations with management at the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life are to restart this month. Talks were suspended by management a number of months ago but the NUJ is determined to seek an early conclusion to these long-running negotiations. As well as submitting a pay claim, the union is


seeking to update the house agreement, which is approximately 15 years old. A number of ancillary issues, such as car parking, will also be dealt with.


Christmas bonus restored


Management at the Clare Champion has agreed to pay NUJ members a €250 Christmas voucher this year. The payment was not made last year but during conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission the company agreed to reinstate the voucher.


Donegal Democrat


suffers redundancies Three journalists were made redundant at the Letterkenny office of the Donegal Democrat, which is owned by Iconic Newspapers. The company does not recognise unions and refused to negotiate with the NUJ. The union assisted the three members of staff and also asked local politicians to make representations to save the posts. However, despite a number of prominent politicians intervening publicly and privately, the company ignored their calls and made the journalists compulsorily redundant.


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