EFJ AGM 2000: 3. Resolution on Freelance Rights

European Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Resolutions
Adopted by the EFJ AGM held in Nuremberg, Germany, May 26-28, 2000



3. Freelance Rights
From the EFJ


The Annual General Meeting of the EFJ welcomes the decision to nominate the year 2000 as the Year of the Freelance and believes that journalists’ unions must do more to meet the challenge of organisation in the growing freelance sector.

In this regard, the AGM endorses and recommends the full implementation of the conclusions of the freelance conference Social Justice in a Freelance World held in November 1999.

The AGM further notes the positive campaigns by a number of affiliates to meet the challenge of recruitment, organisation and representation of freelance workers and believes this experience should be shared throughout the EFJ membership.

Additionally, many other unions strive to adjust to difficult new employment conditions and require advice and assistance on a range of questions ranging from defining the freelance sector and establishing new structures for organisation of so-called atypical workers.

The AGM instructs the Steering Committee and the Freelance Expert Group to strengthen the freelance campaign by

a) launching a renewed information campaign with, as a priority, the creation of a databank on existing freelance rights and working conditions;

b) creating a web-based information service on freelance issues accessible to all EFJ unions;

c) lobbying for action at European level for a) a legislative framework to underpin the harmonisation of social welfare, pension and taxation arrangements for freelance workers across the Europe and b) for actions to counter the use of competition law against freelance journalists;

d) defining projects for additional training facilities to support freelance journalists both at national and international level;

e) reinforcing the authors’ rights international campaign where the rights of freelance journalists are particularly vulnerable.