Labour Court rejects NUJ appeal over two freelance journalists’ permanent posts

In 1993, the Labour Court rejected the National Union Of Journalists’ appeal over two freelance journalists seeking permanent positions at Independent Newspapers. It left the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation standing, with an amendment calling for the parties to review whether length of service should affect access to permanent posts. The union argued that the journalists worked like staff and had inferior pay and conditions. Independent Newspapers said freelance work was part of the industry and that management should decide appointments. The Court also said the journalists’ future freelance pay rates should receive the same pro-rata increases as those of permanent journalists. The decision was dated 29 March 1993.