The NUJ’s bid to appeal to the European Court in order to oust
rival union the British Association of Journalists from the Racing Post
has failed.
rival union the British Association of Journalists from the Racing Post
has failed.
The legal dispute between the two unions dates
back two years to when BAJ signed a recognition deal with Racing Post
owner Trinity Mirror to negotiate on behalf of the paper’s journalists.
back two years to when BAJ signed a recognition deal with Racing Post
owner Trinity Mirror to negotiate on behalf of the paper’s journalists.
The NUJ claims that BAJ has no members at the
Racing Post and therefore has no right to represent them. But BAJ has
argued that because it already represents journalists on The Mirror,
Sunday Mirror and People it makes sense for it to act for those at the
Racing Post as well.
Racing Post and therefore has no right to represent them. But BAJ has
argued that because it already represents journalists on The Mirror,
Sunday Mirror and People it makes sense for it to act for those at the
Racing Post as well.
The NUJ claims to have the support of 100 out of 130 journalists at the Racing Post.
A High Court bid by the NUJ to have BAJ
de-recognised at the Racing Post has already failed.
Now the Court of Appeal has refused the NUJ leave to go the European
Court of Human Rights over the issue. It ruled that BAJ’s recognition
deal at Racing Post complied with union legislation.
de-recognised at the Racing Post has already failed.
Now the Court of Appeal has refused the NUJ leave to go the European
Court of Human Rights over the issue. It ruled that BAJ’s recognition
deal at Racing Post complied with union legislation.
NUJ general gecretary Jeremy Dear said: “The
anti-union laws that make this ridiculous and unfair situation possible
must be got rid of immediately.
anti-union laws that make this ridiculous and unfair situation possible
must be got rid of immediately.
“How can it be just for an association with no
members to be given the right to represent people who don’t want to be
represented by them at the gift of the employer. There is no justice in
this perverse decision.
members to be given the right to represent people who don’t want to be
represented by them at the gift of the employer. There is no justice in
this perverse decision.
“It is a human right to choose whether or not you
wish to be represented by a union and to choose which union you want to
represent you. It is a human right being denied to journalists at the
Racing Post as a result of the collusion between this association and
managers.”
wish to be represented by a union and to choose which union you want to
represent you. It is a human right being denied to journalists at the
Racing Post as a result of the collusion between this association and
managers.”
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