New Delhi: August 22, 2013: The National Union of Journalists (India) condemned the decision of TV-18 Network management to layoff majority of its journalists and other media staffers from the organisation.
“The decision is arbitrary, unrealistic, unjustified and unwarranted. The TV-18 management suddenly announced retrenchment of media staff across India claiming the move will save money during the next financial year. “The management’s argument does not make any sense because the management has set up a huge hierarchy of managers who claim a major share of the salary budget and none of them are being retrenched,” Prasanna Mohanty, NUJ Secretary General said.
The NUJ Secretary General said that “We have also noted that a significant amount of money is being used for undue promotions of cronies and favorites, and the retrenchment appears to be aimed at making room for the kith and kin of the managers rather than saving costs. The decision means financial murder of media workers who have a major role in making TV-18 Network one of the most credible news sources in India.
“The Media staff in India have been working under constant stress due to an unusual increase in their workload and have at times risked their lives while performing their duties, or received threats for the kind of stories they were doing,” the NUJ leaders pointed out. Instead of addressing their legitimate concerns about their security, they are being constantly bullied and harassed by the top management, negating their own commitment about respect at the work place.
The NUJ(I) called upon the Union Government and TV-18 Network’s top management to intervene and prevent the media staff from taking such ruthless action. “We stand by the Media Staff of TV-18 Network and ensure them all out support,” and also urged that to immediately intervene into the matter and do justice. “We at NUJ(I) demand the TV-18 to desist from such activities immediately and restore the jobs of all those who have been victims of management’s actions against prevailing laws and rules. Otherwise the NUJ(I) will be forced to take other steps to get justice for the consequences of which the TV 18 management alone will be responsible,” the statement said.
Office Secretary
National Union of Journalists (India)
Press Release
