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Putting the focus firmly on pay inequality


By Séamus Dooley


Publication of the Mulvey report on the gender pay gap in RTÉ has helped sharpen the focus on pay discrimination within the media in Ireland. The appointment of Kieran


Mulvey to independently review gender pay and roles within RTÉ following high profile cases at the BBC, where the NUJ is now engaged in tacking a mas s i ve number of pay discrimination cases. Mr Mulvey, former Chief


Executive of the WRC, found that RTÉ’s 4pc gender pay gap was well below the norm in Irish public bodies but the situation was worse at higher levels and he identified particular issues in News and Current Affairs. The RTÉ sub branch has established a committee to examine pay inequality within the organisation. While there are many inequalities - including l i n g u i s t i c a n d r e g i o n a l disparities, the issue of gender pay is a priority. The union views the Mulvey process as a flawed for a number of reasons. The RTÉ trade union group


had no input into the terms of reference, which excluded those not engaged on full-time contracts of service. The exclusion of contracts


and those forced to work on bogus self-employed contracts


Equality in focus: RTE Arts and Media correspondent Sinead Crowley discusses the NUJ demand for an end to the gender pay gap and bogus self employed contracts with Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary.


meant that the report did not convey the full picture in RTÉ. The NUJ welcomes Mulvey’s


emphasis on greater emphasis on transparency, on the need to address pay inequality and clear, open reporting on pay. Of particular significance was


the parallel announcement of a review of contracts in RTÉ, fol lowing on from ground breaking coverage on Drivetime o f t h e b o g u s c o n t r a c t s highlighted by the NUJ. Ph i l i p Bo u c h e r Ha y e s demonstrated the value of public service broadcasting by challenging the situation within RTÉ itself and the NUJ shaped the post Mulvey agenda by placing the spotlight on the inconsistent approach adopted by RTÉ in forcing some staff to


become “self-employed” despite meeting all the tests which define employees. There’s a strong gender


dimension to the contract issue. If you are deemed to be self- employed you don’t quality for paid maternity leave, precarious employment has particular implications for those with caring responsibilities – not e x c l u s i v e l y b u t s t i l l predominantly women. It must be said that many NUJ


members in the private sector view RTÉ as a model employer and yes, Mulvey’s findings confirm that strong trade union agreements have ensured that many staff are well paid. Others are not and increasingly there is concern at employment practises in RTÉ.


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