KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) says it is in the process of doing a canvas of media workers to determine whether there is need for a trade union to represent journalists.

The decision was made at the association’s annual general meeting on Sunday September 25, where members voted unanimously in favour of a resolution approving the canvas, PAJ said in a release this morning said.

The canvas is said to be part of the remit of a committee to be established to explore and research the issues, and make recommendations to the executive committee and general meeting. The recommendations will then be discussed and a determination on the way forward made by the membership of the association.

PAJ said it recognizes the need for improved representation of journalists and media workers in general and the preamble to the resolution highlighted the need for assistance in:

– negotiating wages and conditions of work which are issues connected to preserving the integrity of the individual journalist and freedom of the press;

– regulating relations between workers and employers to protect the independence of journalists;

– taking collective action to enforce the terms of collective bargaining and raise new demands on behalf of journalists and media workers and;

– helping to settle grievances.

The PAJ said it will be rolling out a programme to meet with media workers to discuss the desirability of establishing a trade union and based on those discussions, recommendations will be made and a final decision taken at a future general meeting.

The association said the matter of a trade union for journalists was put to the annual general meeting due to numerous requests by journalists for many years.