New quarrel between IBA and Jerusalem Journalists Association

A number of thorny issues has fomented new contentions between the two organizations.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Microphone (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Microphone
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
After a period of relative quiet, ructions are again simmering in relations between the management of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and the Jerusalem Journalists Association.
JJA chairman Hika Ginosar has issued a call to all journalists employed by the IBA not to yield to efforts to deprive them of overtime pay.
Over the years overtime pay has been a thorny issue in the IBA budget, and for many IBA employees on low salaries, the overtime pay made a significant difference in their abilities to make ends meet.
However a series of annual reports by State Comptrollers have revealed serious flaws in the way that overtime was calculated.
Nonetheless, when the Knesset decided nine months ago to close down the IBA and replace it with another broadcasting entity, the decision included a proviso that existing labor agreements would remain in force until the IBA was finally dismantled.
The liquidation process is taking longer than initially envisaged and management, which has in the interim introduced several new initiatives and has also hired new people, is now attempting to offset some of this expenditure by cutting down on overtime.
As it is, several hundred IBA employees are working under the shadow of dismissal, which is psychologically traumatic, and according Ginosar, even without this looming threat, the pressures and their employment conditions are almost intolerable.
An attempt by management to circumvent the law is both illegal and immoral said Ginsoar, who has published a general notification to all IBA journalists, asking them to report any effort to reduce their salaries and promising that the JJA will fight such efforts tooth and nail.
The broadcasting reforms which were to have come into effect last month, have been considerably delayed and are unlikely to be fully implemented this year.
Meanwhile, the JJA remains on high alert, especially because managerial changes are also affecting the decision making process.


Related Tags
israel broadcasting authority