Rights of Freelance Workers

This Biennial Delegate Conference notes the dramatic changes within the Irish media landscape.In particular conference notes the decline in permanent employment within the newspaper and broadcasting sectors; the increased dependence on casual and freelance workers combined with the outsourcing of many editorial functions and the severe impact of the actions of the Competition Authority (now the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) on the rights of  freelance workers.Conference notes the undermining of employment standards and the refusal of many employers within the national and regional press sector to recognise the right of workers to be collectively represented by trade unions. Recognising that there is a public interest in the existence of media plurality Conference notes with concern the failure of successive governments to  ensure diversity of media ownership and control in the Republic of Ireland. Conference calls on the Irish government to establish a Commission on the Future of the Media in Ireland which would examine all aspects of ownership and control of the print, broadcast and on-line media in Ireland including employment standards, access to training and career development and measures to ensure the survival and development of a diverse range of media organisations and platforms. Adopted

National Union of Journalists