A group of film set workers who were blacklisted for raising contract concerns and accusing two leading Irish film producers of committing systematic employment law breaches have been awarded over €400,000 in compensation. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has publicly announced its decisions to award €434,216 to members of the Irish Film Workers’ Association (IFWA) who filed complaints en masse two years ago. The WRC is expected to release further statutory complaint decisions in the coming days.
The complaints were made by nearly 40 members of the breakaway trade union, who accused the producers and their associated entities of breaching the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003. They claimed that the producers failed to provide them with permanent contracts after four years of service and retaliated against them for raising concerns.
The workers lodged complaints against World 2000 Entertainment Ltd and Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd, stating that they worked for these companies, of which the two producers were the principal directors. The WRC rejected the argument put forth by representatives of the Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC), who claimed that the workers were not direct employees of the firms but were hired on a project-by-project basis by designated activity companies.
Metropolitan Films International Ltd, which the WRC determined to be the ultimate employer, has been ordered to pay compensation to the workers. Several workers were entitled to contracts of indefinite duration and were wrongfully dismissed for asserting their rights. The compensation orders include amounts ranging from €5,000 to €9,000 for breaches of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act.
The workers expressed their distress over the blacklist, stating that they were penalized for their involvement with IFWA and prevented from finding further employment. For many of them, their careers in the film industry came to an end. Despite their years of experience, they found themselves driving taxis or starting their own businesses in the construction trade.
The decisions made by the WRC mark a significant turning point in the case. Initially, the WRC rejected jurisdiction in six test cases ruled on in 2022, stating that the complainants filed their claims too late. However, the WRC reassessed its position after hearing additional evidence during later hearings in 2023. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne concluded that the workers had the right to bring complaints within the statutory window, as they only discovered they were not being called back for work when a new film production began.
With the WRC’s decisions in favor of the workers, the case highlights the importance of protecting workers’ rights and ensuring fair treatment in the film industry. The IFWA’s efforts to expose systematic blacklisting and secure justice for its members have brought attention to the issue and prompted calls for greater accountability and adherence to employment laws in the industry.
