Labour Court Database __________________________________________________________________________________ File Number: CD87644 Case Number: LCR11557 Section / Act: S67 Parties: RTE - and - NUJ |
Staffing levels on Radio 2 News.
Recommendation:
6. In light of the submissions made by the parties the Court
recommends that the seven person roster as proposed by the
Authority should be accepted by the Union on the understanding
that the operation of the roster be subject to review six months
after the date of its introduction.
Division: Mr O'Connell Mr McHenry Ms Ni Mhurchu
Text of Document__________________________________________________________________
CD87644 RECOMMENDATION NO. LCR11557
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 1976
SECTION 67
PARTIES: RADIO TELEFIS EIREANN
and
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
SUBJECT:
1. Staffing levels on Radio 2 News.
BACKGROUND:
2. From 1979 to May, 1987 the Authority transmitted its
programmes seven days a week, from 06.30 hours to 01.50 hours, a
broadcasting day of just over 19 hours. In March, 1987 the
Authority received Government approval to proceed with 24 hour
broadcasting on Radio 2 with effect from 31st May, 1987. News
coverage is provided seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with news
bulletins being broadcast on the hour, every hour.
3. The Union sought an increase in wholetime staff for Radio 2
news from 7 to 8 with the introduction of 24 hour broadcasting,
local level meetings were held in May, 1987. Management rejected
the Union's claim for increased staff on the basis that the report
of the Activity Review Unit (issued in March, 1987) had stated
that when 24 hour broadcasting was introduced Radio 2 news would
require seven wholetime staff. Management further stated that a
pool of trained casual journalists would be used when necessary
and a review of the operation could be undertaken in the future.
This was unacceptable to the Union who maintained that the
appropriate staffing level was 8 wholetime posts in order to
provide a news service on Radio 2 with 24 hour broadcasting. On
9th June, 1987 the matter was referred to the conciliation service
of the Labour Court. A conciliation conference was held on 17th
August, 1987 (the earliest date suitable to the parties) at which
no agreement could be reached and on 24th August, 1987 the matter
was referred to the Labour Court for investigation and
recommendation. The Court investigated the dispute on 23rd
November, 1987.
UNION'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Union was not consulted about the introduction of 24
hour broadcasting. The Union does not accept that 24 hour
broadcasting was agreed in its last productivity deal and is
not opposed to it if there are adequate staffing levels. The
minimum number required to maintain a professional service is
8.
2. During preliminary negotiations, management accepted that
seven staff were inadequate. Seven staff does not provide
sufficient cover for sick leave, annual leave, etc and staff
have been asked to: work three week-ends out of four;
broadcast after shifts finish; work rosters with no meal
break; and work rosters at short notice. All the latter are
in breach of agreements.
3. The report of the Activity Review Unit (Sexton Report)
recommended that as Radio 2 News is an important service, a
group of staff should be specially selected given appropriate
training and as a minimum offered one to two year contracts
of employment. However, management now propose to bring in
casuals to cover shortages a situation which would occur
frequently.
4. The Sexton Report was undertaken due to newsroom staffing
problems, caused by cuts proposed by an earlier report which
did not assess the newsroom's workload accurately.
Similarly, the Sexton Report on which management base their
case for seven staff has not taken into account the workload
involved. News bulletins are broadcast every hour on the
hour, 24 hours a day. This involves staff in initiating
stories, checking developments, updating copy and
broadcasting from the studio throughout the day and night.
Eight wholetime staff are required to provide sufficient
cover and deliver a professional service.
AUTHORITY'S ARGUMENTS:
5. 1. Under the terms of "The Development of the Broadcasting
Services in the 1980's" agreement it was agreed with the
Union that a staffing level of 6 was adequate to meet Radio 2
news output requirements in the 19 hour broadcasting day
situation (details supplied to the Court). With 24 hour
broadcasting there are only 32 hours extra a week involved
which is less than the net weekly attendance liability of one
journalist. Management's proposal to increase wholetime
staff to 7 is therefore reasonable.
2. Management has examined staffing levels and is satisfied
that the addition of an eighth wholetime post is not
required. The second report of the Activity Review Unit
examined the staffing levels of Radio 2 in relation to both a
19 hour day news output and 24 hour broadcasting requirements
(details supplied to the Court). The report recommended 6
staff for a 19 hour broadcasting day and 7 staff with the
extension of the broadcasting service to 24 hours.
3. No sustainable arguments have been put forward for
increasing the number of wholetime posts to 8. Management
have made genuine efforts to resolve the situation, firstly
by agreeing to engage trained casual journalists when
necessary and secondly by offering to monitor and review the
workload of Radio 2 news staff in 6 to 12 months time. A
staffing level of 7 wholetime posts is the appropriate level
for the news output requirements of Radio 2.
RECOMMENDATION:
6. In light of the submissions made by the parties the Court
recommends that the seven person roster as proposed by the
Authority should be accepted by the Union on the understanding
that the operation of the roster be subject to review six months
after the date of its introduction.
~
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
John O'Connell
__________________________
Deputy Chairman
3rd December, 1987.
U.M./J.C.