Journalists set to impose ban

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 1

Journalists set to impose ban

Press Association journalists have threatened to strike from 3 p.m. today unless the Newspaper Publishers’ Association withdraws claims it has submitted to the Industrial Commission over a seven-week-old dispute about overnight-shift allowances.

The New Zealand Journalists’ Union, in a statement to journalists, described the move by the employers to file claims as a denial to the union of customary rights, including the right to withdraw from unsatisfactory negotiations. The N.Z.J.U. has filed its own application with the Industrial Commission, and has asked the N.P.A. to withdraw so that negotiations can go ahead on the union claims. The Press Association journalists have sought an increase in the overnight allowance from the present $5.25 a shift to $l2 a shift. They also get a margin of 5 per cent above award rates under a house agreement.

The employers have offered $6.75 a night. In September, the Press Association journalists struck for 48 hours in support of their claims. Today’s threatened strike has been described by the president of the Newspaper Publishers’ Association (Mr J. A. Burnet) as “draconian and impudent.” He said it meant that the N.Z.J.U.

was “abrogating to itself powers which any dictator might envy. “It will shock all thoughtful New Zealanders to learn that, fron. this afternoon, a censorship of the contents of their daily newspapers more drastic than this country has ever known may take effect,” Mr Burnet said.

“It will shock them further to learn that this incredible proposal comes from those who above all others should cherish press freedom—a group of newspaper journalists.”

The instructions issued by the N.Z.J.U. went “far beyond” the severe restrictions imposed in earlier strikes, including the 48hour strike against the Press Association in September, he said. “Not only will all news issued by the N.Z.P.A. be declared black, but all cable news, all overseas news of any kind, including mail services, mail photographs, and wire photographs, will be black for the duration of the strike. This will include copy obtained by international toll call unless N.Z.J.U. representatives accept the call as one that would have been made in normal circumstances.” Mr Burnet said that the N.P.A., by filing its own application with the commission, had exercised its right within the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act.

Counter-claims filed by the union would enlarge the dispute so grossly that the N.P.A. could not make a quick decision on the union’s request, especially under threat of strike action, he said. Another aspect of the dispute is over the use of new computer equipment. The union says that unless the N.Z.P.A. journalists succeed in the negotiations, newspaper workers throughout New Zealand may be forced to acquire and use additional skills without receiving extra payment. Mr Burnet said that in the union’s latest claims made known only late on Friday, it sought a 10 per cent margin for the computer system which the N.Z.P.A. would introduce next year.

The system would make work easier, more interesting, and more satisfying professionally, said Mr Burnet. The skills could be learnt in a few hours, or a few days at most. The N.Z.J.U. has been assured of the support of the Northern Journalists’ Union, the Printing Trades’ Union, and the PhotoEngravers’ Union. Mr Burnet said that he hoped the N.Z.J.U., its members throughout the country, and the other unions would think again before the proposed strike got under way.