Norma Burke, a photojournalist working part-time while studying full-time, has claimed that Press Photographers Ireland CLG (PPI), a professional organisation for press photographers in Ireland, is establishing unfair barriers for women wanting to join, and promotes an old boys club mentality. During a meeting at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Thursday, Ms Burke levelled allegations of PPI behaving like “photo Freemasons” while claiming to have experienced belittlement and disregard in interactions with one of PPI’s male affiliates.
Her argument, as per the Equal Status Act 2000, contends that PPI is engaging in both direct and indirect discrimination based on sex. According to Ms Burke, the PPI membership stipulation, which mandates members to be full-time press photographers earning 80% of their income from editorial work, is discriminatory to women as they are more likely to be part-time workers, full-time students or have care-giving responsibilities. The journalist also alleges that she received disrespectful and gender-biased comments in response to her inquiries about the membership process in August and September of the previous year.
PPI, formerly known as the Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) up to this year, vehemently denies any infringement. Their lawyer encouraged the tribunal to reject the case on initial grounds stating that as Ms Burke never applied for a membership, she has no right to a claim. Furthermore, the association does not offer a public service, impervious to the equality legislation. However, the tribunal decided to hold the hearing in full on Thursday.
Elaine Davern-Wiseman BL, representing PPI, dismissed Burke’s statements, labelling them as provoking and prejudiced with no relevance to the complaint. She further defended the full-time membership condition stating that it helps maintain the prestige and standards of the organisation. Additionally, a membership card by PPI, identifying the holder as legitimate to the gardaí, is especially important in the present context, she added.
Presiding officer Kara Turner wrapped up the session this past Thursday, promising to deliver her judgements in written form to the relevant parties in due course.
Prior to this, Ms Burke rattled the cage of the Dublin City Council with an attempt to receive their backing to stand in the 2018 Presidential race, donning a disguise as the imaginary PR executive Bunty Twuntingdon-McFuff, much to the amusement of local councillors.
She donned the same alter ego in the nerve centre of the 2019 UK general election, pitting herself against the former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip division, amassing 22 votes to her name. During the succeeding year’s race for the Dáil, Ms Burke scrapped the pseudonym and ran as an independent for Dublin Bay South under her actual name, without managing to claim a seat.