Madam, - Yet again a vital section of workers in the media and entertainment industry are under attack. They need support.
Actors, musicians, journalists and film technicians are being denied the basic right to be collectively represented by trade unions.
In a country where many powerful interest groups continue to rip off the consumer with apparent impunity, the Competition Authority has targeted some of the most vulnerable and lowest-paid members of the workforce. These workers, who play a central role in the shaping and development of our people and our country, are denied the basic right to be represented by a trade union.
Siptu (through its Film and Entertainment Branch, Irish Equity and the Musicians' Union of Ireland) has been forced to withdraw from negotiating on their behalf because of a threat of prosecution. The authority has deemed that negotiating even minimum rates with employers is a form of price fixing. It considers each individual worker is a private company and Siptu is even forbidden to publish fee guides.
With the National Union of Journalists, Siptu is now calling on the Government to restore the employment rights of our colleagues. Ireland is a signatory to the International Labour Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work - an international treaty that commits the Irish State to respect basic trade union rights.
European Union competition law is there to prevent price fixing by powerful cartels or the creation of monopolies by big business. It was never intended to deny workers the right to trade union representation. By creating the fiction that these self-assessed workers are commercial enterprises, the Irish Competition Authority has done just that.
It is ironic that this is being done in the name of "efficiency" and "competition".
Efficiency - Many employers would prefer to hammer out centrally agreed basic rates with the unions because of the administrative convenience, fairness and transparency of such an arrangement for all concerned.
Competition - Outlawing collective bargaining for performing artists, journalists and film technicians has not benefited consumers one cent. Any savings have been pocketed by employers.
So what can be done?
The Government can amend the Industrial Relations Act 1990 and related legislation to restore the right to trade union representation for these vulnerable workers.
At EU level the Irish Government can ensure competition law is not used to undermine the rights of any group of workers.
We are asking for wide support in protecting the rights of our fellow actors, musicians, journalists, film technicians and photographers and, in the process, protecting our deservedly renowned arts tradition. - Yours, etc,
VINCENT McCABE, President, Irish Equity Group; TONY FORAN, President, Siptu Film and Entertainment Branch; GREG BOLAND, President, Musician' Union of Ireland; BRENDAN GLEESON; NIALL TÓIBÍN; BRYAN MURRAY; BILLY ROCHE; RUTH McCABE; DAVID HEAP; OLWEN FOUERE; JIM CULLETON; JEAN BOURNE; EAMON MURRAY; DONAL O'KELLY; GERALDINE PLUNKETT; OWEN ROE; WALLY PAGE; GEORGE BWANIKA SEREMBA; RONNIE DREW; PHELIM DREW; SEAMUS DEASEY; LUKE GRIFFIN; LOUGHLIN DEEGAN; PAULA MEEHAN; LYNNE PARKER; RYNAGH O'GRADY; ELEANOR METVEN; FIACHRA TRENCH; CORMAC J BREATHNACH; JOHN LYNCH; DECLAN O'ROURKE; LUKA BLOOM; THEO DORGAN; GARRET KEOGH; MICHELLE FORBES, Dublin.