Drogheda controversy uncovered
Journalists taking photos at the Drogheda Independent will be a prominent debate at the NUJ’s 2008 conference in Belfast.
There is a whole order paper of motions on the subject – motions starting with 115 on page 40 of the final agenda.
But the chapel at Dogheda says there has been a lot of misinformation about the deal. No writer at the paper has taken a single photo and freelance photographers are still retained seven days a week.
story | video | photos | links
The Drogheda deal was the result of the chapel threatening to strike when the management tried to withdraw the final salary pension scheme and replace it with one based on how much each person saves into their pension.
- A final salary pension means is also known as a defined benefit (DB) pension
- The alternative is known as a defined contribution (DC) scheme.
The chapel proved to be among the most militant in Ireland when employers, though the Regional Newspaper Association of Ireland, tried to end the DB pension scheme and continued to fight after their employers pulled out of the national negotiations.
As a result, they negotiated better sickness benefits, maternity rights, a decent grievance policy and huge pay rises of as much as euros6000. And the company gave each journalist the option of staying in the DB pension – which every chapel member at the Drogheda Independent chose to do.
As part of that deal the company asked for an agreement that journalists would adopt future technologies without huge negotiations each time.
Joint MoC Fiona Magennis said: “Nobody here is using cameras. There is no agreement as to when cameras will be introduced. The company didn’t have plans to introduce cameras, it just didn’t want to have to have renegotiate with us in ten years time.” Magennis points out that the chapel did initially refuse the clause but accepted a compromise as part of the deal bringing so many other benefits.
The clause covers training, a working party to monitor usage and that the company will take into account the NUJ’s policy on using cameras.
The clause says:
All equipment – including use of cameras by reporters on assignment - will be operated without further claim by staff covered by this agreement. Training needs for any equipment will be assessed b the editor who will nominate candidates for provision of such requirements. A joint working party will be set up to monitor the implementation of this clause as it refers to the use of photographic equipment. The working party will take due cognisance of the current policy of the NUJ.
Magennis says some coverage of the deal, particularly on photographers’ websites, such as Editorial Photographers UK (UPUK), was inaccurate and inflammatory. One photographer’s network was closed by the NUJ as a result of disagreements over allegations made by photographers about the told of the Irish NUJ officials.
story | video | photos | links | back to top
MoC Fiona Magennis
story | video | photos | links | back to top
story | video | photos | links | back to top
story | video | photos | links | back to top
