The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) today supported the strike by 1,700 journalist members of their affiliate, the Norwegian Union of Journalists (NJ), at the Norwegian Public Service Broadcasting NRK.
The workers went on strike yesterday after the negotiations and mediation over a new collective agreement failed.
The IFJ and EFJ, together with the Broadcasting Expert group, expressed their solidarity with the NJ and journalists on strike at NRK.
According to the NJ, the NRK wants to replace around 100 journalists every year. During the negotiations, the NJ demanded that NRK takes responsibility for necessary mid-career training, refresher courses and competence enhancing opportunities needed for their future.
They also want the NRK to close the pay gap of their journalists and end precarious working conditions for some journalists who are on temporary contracts, especially freelances. In a statement, the NJ said: “Colleague journalists with precarious contracts in NRK earn less than the permanent staff. We demand equal conditions for temporaries and freelancers.”
Journalists at the NRK fear that their workload will increase while their pay remains the same. The union says that NRK journalists earn less than their colleagues in the other big media houses. According to the NJ, NRK has in five years saved 500 million NOK (550.000 EUR) because journalists work faster and smarter. NRK has rationalised and saved money through the last three annual bargaining processes and the journalists have accepted a new pension scheme that saves NRK 140 million NOK (15 million EUR) annually.
Both Federations support the Norwegian colleagues and their demand for equal pay for equal work.
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 16
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries