16 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS NEWS Click and Collect Christmas bad news for media organisations


The fall in advertising revenue arising from what is being dubbed a “click and collect Christmas” will have serious implications for media organisations, Irish Organiser Ian McGuinness has warned. In a report to the IEC’s November meeting Ian McGuinness highlights serious concerns, especially


in the regional press sector. Combined with a lean January, a bad Christmas


arising from the six-week lockdown leading up to December 1st could have great consequences for employment and underlines the need for an urgent rescue package for the industry.


Anti-mask campaign under fire


Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has been appointed to a working group of the ICTU Executive Council to work in conjunction with the ICTU Global Solidarity committee on developing a strategy to deal with the threat of the far right in Ireland. Of particular concern is the way in which disparate


groups have attacked workers, including journalists, during anti mask rallies and protests against Covid-19 restrictions. Reporters, photographers and television crews


have been abused and threatened in Dublin city centre and outside the Criminal Courts of Justice. Séamus said retail and media workers are among


those threatened. “It is especially nauseating to see journalists being


threatened in the name of civil liberties,” he said. “The right to peaceful protest does not involve the right to abuse workers doing their job. “Many of those involved in these campaigns are


associated with far-right groups and have a sinister agenda,” Séamus said. “There are many who have genuine concerns over the Covid lockdown and over aspects of government policy who do not take it upon


Revitalised INM chapel in full swing


Under the leadership of FoC Luke Byrne and MoC Anne Marie Walsh, the revitalised chapel at Independent House is operating at full tilt, dealing with a huge workload with the assistance of Ian McGuinness, Irish organiser.


The company has indicated that it wishes to re-


negotiate the comprehensive 13-year old House Agreement. An unexpected announcement that the Herald


would continue to be printed but that no additional investment would be made in Herald.ie was greeted with concern by designated Herald staff. Production will now be done by an enlarged INM


production unit and there is no threat to the terms and conditions of the Herald team. Also under review are the company’s expenses and retirement policies.


Séamus Dooley: on ICTU working group.


themselves to abuse or harass workers. As far as I am concerned, ‘anti-mask’ is ‘anti-worker’.”


Concern over Iconic posts


At a recent meeting of the IEC, concern was expressed at the approach being adopted by Iconic Newspapers, who continue to refuse to engage with the NUJ. While some staff have been brought back to work


from being laid off, a small number continued to be laid off for more than seven months in succession. The work of these members is being reassigned to non-staff.


NUJ extends Reach Having successfully contested compulsory redundancies at Reach titles, the NUJ has trebled its membership in the company’s Irish operation. A chapel has been formed at Reach, Dublin. The company owns the Irish Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror, Dublin Live, RSVP, Belfast Live, and Cork Beo. Meanwhile, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also recently cleared its acquisition of the Irish Daily Star.


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