ZAGREB, June 3 (Hina) - The Croatian Trade Union of Journalists (SNH) held its assembly in Sibenik on Saturday when it adopted a draft national collective agreement harmonising the rights of all Croatian journalists and media workers,
which will be the basis for negotiations with employers. The document should regulate the minimum level of reporters' rights and this level cannot be lowered by any unilateral move. On of the objectives of the collective agreement is to regulate the status of staff members who work on a full-time basis for a longer period but under contracts on part-time employment. Thus, such journalists actually work off the books. Under the agreement, such workers, depending on how many years they have been employed in some media houses, will acquire all the rights which full-time ('permanent') employees enjoy. This implies the right to a certain period of notice, days off, paid holiday
ZAGREB, June 3 (Hina) - The Croatian Trade Union of Journalists
(SNH) held its assembly in Sibenik on Saturday when it adopted a
draft national collective agreement harmonising the rights of all
Croatian journalists and media workers, which will be the basis for
negotiations with employers.
The document should regulate the minimum level of reporters' rights
and this level cannot be lowered by any unilateral move.
On of the objectives of the collective agreement is to regulate the
status of staff members who work on a full-time basis for a longer
period but under contracts on part-time employment. Thus, such
journalists actually work off the books.
Under the agreement, such workers, depending on how many years they
have been employed in some media houses, will acquire all the rights
which full-time ('permanent') employees enjoy. This implies the
right to a certain period of notice, days off, paid holidays, health
care insurance, special bonus payments and so on.
Employers are bound to conclude a contract with such workers which
will ensure the regular payment of fee royalties and wages. So far
some employers have been able to dodge this obligations, and 'part-
time' journalists working on a full-time basis have waited for
earned money for a few months.
The SNH also envisaged measures in the document which would secure a
certain level of journalists' salaries in case of a higher
inflation rate.
Under the agreement, the so-called Christmas bonus and the 13th
salary in one year should be paid.
The SNH hopes that negotiations with employers will soon start.
Some of employers ("Europapress Holding", "Vecernji List") are
members of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), some are a
part of the association of concession-holders of local radio
stations, and some houses and firms are state-owned (HRT,
"Vjesnik", "Slobodna Dalmacija").
(hina) ms