'Clare Champion' body-searching clause a 'breach of civil liberties'

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has advised newly recruited staff at one of the State's best known regional newspapers not to sign contracts which allow personal body searches to be carried out on them by management.

Last night, NUJ organiser Des Fagan said the contracts being offered by the Clare Champion to two new journalists were a breach of civil liberties "and make a presumption on the employer's part that the staff may be stealing from the company". The contracts offered to the two state that the company "reserves the right to search your person, property and vehicle while you are on the premises or as you are about to depart the company premises".

The contracts remain unsigned. Mr Fagan said if signed, they would also undermine the work conditions of other staff journalists. He said there had been no pressure from management on the two new members to sign them. Finance director with the Clare Champion Liam Duggan said the contracts were supplied by employers' organisation Ibec and prepared by managing editor John Galvin.

A spokesman for Ibec said last night: "The clause relating to searches of employees is a normal feature of many employment contracts and is designed to protect an employer from theft."

However, he added: "The use of the clause is more prevalent in businesses dealing with high value products or easily marketable small items."