Journalists’ Unions approach Supreme Court against the illegal salary cuts and retrenchments in the garb of Corona pandemic crisis
Journalists Union appeal before the apex court, allege salary cuts and retrenchment illegal
By Team PGurus
-April 17, 2020
Journalists Union appeal before the apex court, allege salary cuts and retrenchment illegal
Three Journalists’ Unions have approached the Supreme Court on Thursday against the illegal retrenchments and salary cuts implemented by certain media companies in the garb of the Corona pandemic crisis. The petition filed by three prominent Unions – National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists and Brihan Mumbai Union of Journalists appealed to the Apex Court to direct Central and State Governments to take stringent action against the media barons who violate the laws and norms during the COVID-19 crisis.
“This public interest litigation is being filed regarding the inhuman and illegal treatment being meted out by employers to their employees and workers in the newspaper and media sector, by issuing termination notices, imposing steep wage cuts unilaterally, sending workers and employees on indefinite unpaid leave, and soon, taking the excuse of the nation-wide lockdown” imposed in light of the spread of COVID-19, Coronavirus.
“Several newspapers, magazines, online media outlets, and other employers in the media sector have reportedly taken step after the announcement of the nation-wide lockdown in March 2020 to retrench workers and employees, impose wage cuts, etc. in spite of advisories issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India and even appeals by the Prime Minister of India to not terminate the services or reduce the wages of their employees, “said the petition citing the salary cutting and retrenchments implemented by the media barons with impunity.
The petition filed by the Journalists’ Unions pointed out the massive salary cuts and retrenchments illegally implemented by Times of India, Economic Times, Indian Express, Business Standard and Quint Website, Bloomberg Quint, News Nation, Outlook Magazine, Hamara Maha Nagar newspaper from Mumbai and NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar’s family members run Sakal Newspaper Group.
PGurus have reported the salary cut in Indian Express[1] and retrenchment in Quint[2] blaming the Corona crisis by Goenka family and Raghav Bahl.
Noted lawyer Colin Gonsalves is expected to argue for the Journalists’ Unions. The six-page synopsis of the petition filed by Journalists’ Unions is published below:
Journalist Unions by PGurus on Scribd
References:
[1] Blaming Corona, Indian Express implements huge salary cuts – Apr 4, 2020, PGurus.com
[2] Blaming Corona, Quint website owner Raghav Bahl kicks out staffers through forced leave without salary from April 15 – Apr 13, 2020, PGurus.com
After salary cuts, Times of India Group plans massive retrenchment in the garb of Corona crisis
Times of India Group trying to retrench in the garb of Corona crisis, allege insiders
By Team PGurus
-April 28, 2020
Three Journalists’ Unions have approached the Supreme Court on Thursday against the illegal retrenchments and salary cuts implemented by certain media companies in the garb of the Corona pandemic crisis. The petition filed by three prominent Unions – National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists and Brihan Mumbai Union of Journalists appealed to the Apex Court to direct Central and State Governments to take stringent action against the media barons who violate the laws and norms during the COVID-19 crisis.
“This public interest litigation is being filed regarding the inhuman and illegal treatment being meted out by employers to their employees and workers in the newspaper and media sector, by issuing termination notices, imposing steep wage cuts unilaterally, sending workers and employees on indefinite unpaid leave, and soon, taking the excuse of the nation-wide lockdown” imposed in light of the spread of COVID-19, Coronavirus.
“Several newspapers, magazines, online media outlets, and other employers in the media sector have reportedly taken step after the announcement of the nation-wide lockdown in March 2020 to retrench workers and employees, impose wage cuts, etc. in spite of advisories issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India and even appeals by the Prime Minister of India to not terminate the services or reduce the wages of their employees, “said the petition citing the salary cutting and retrenchments implemented by the media barons with impunity.
The petition filed by the Journalists’ Unions pointed out the massive salary cuts and retrenchments illegally implemented by Times of India, Economic Times, Indian Express, Business Standard and Quint Website, Bloomberg Quint, News Nation, Outlook Magazine, Hamara Maha Nagar newspaper from Mumbai and NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar’s family members run Sakal Newspaper Group.
PGurus have reported the salary cut in Indian Express[1] and retrenchment in Quint[2] blaming the Corona crisis by Goenka family and Raghav Bahl.
Noted lawyer Colin Gonsalves is expected to argue for the Journalists’ Unions. The six-page synopsis of the petition filed by Journalists’ Unions is published below:
Journalist Unions by PGurus on Scribd
References:
[1] Blaming Corona, Indian Express implements huge salary cuts – Apr 4, 2020, PGurus.com
[2] Blaming Corona, Quint website owner Raghav Bahl kicks out staffers through forced leave without salary from April 15 – Apr 13, 2020, PGurus.com
After salary cuts, Times of India Group plans massive retrenchment in the garb of Corona crisis
Times of India Group trying to retrench in the garb of Corona crisis, allege insiders
By Team PGurus
-April 28, 2020
Times of India Group trying to retrench in the garb of Corona crisis, allege insiders
Ignoring all Governments’ directions, Samir Jain & Vineet Jain-controlled Times of India Group has illegally implemented 10 to 20 percent salary cuts and planning for a huge retrenchment of employees in the garb of the Corona Crisis. The controversial Bennett and Coleman Company Limited (BCCL) which is popularly known as the Times of India Group which is running many newspapers, TV channels, and Internet platforms is having more than Rs.1000 crores profit is now coming out with fake stories of huge losses due to COVID-19 and planning for a huge retrenchment of journalists and other staffers.
According to insiders, the Jains have asked the department heads in Times of India & Economic Times newspapers and TV channels like Times Now and Mirror Now to prepare a list of employees to be sacked. This is nothing but a ruse to keep their profits intact by salary cuts and retrenchments, say many staffers. Another trick used by the owners is to transfer employees to distant areas and get automatic resignation from them.
“More than Rs.1000 crores is the entire Group’s minimum profit after all taxes have been paid. Obviously, due to 40 days of lockdown, there is a drop in the advertisement revenues. But they saved a lot in expenses by cutting the number of pages being printed per edition. Now newspapers are having only 12 or 16 pages while in their heydays they printed more than 40 to 50 pages. Losses are there but manageable comparing the annual profits crossing more than Rs.1000 crores after paying all taxes,” say, staffers, indicating that they would complain to the Government or prefer to go to Court.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Government of India, National Broadcasters Association, and Indian Newspaper Society on the petition filed by various Journalist Unions against salary cuts and retrenchments in the garb of Corona crisis[1].
It is learned that many other journalists who are facing retrenchment threats from Times of India andother media organizations are expected to intervene in this case.
Ignoring all Governments’ directions, Samir Jain & Vineet Jain-controlled Times of India Group has illegally implemented 10 to 20 percent salary cuts and planning for a huge retrenchment of employees in the garb of the Corona Crisis. The controversial Bennett and Coleman Company Limited (BCCL) which is popularly known as the Times of India Group which is running many newspapers, TV channels, and Internet platforms is having more than Rs.1000 crores profit is now coming out with fake stories of huge losses due to COVID-19 and planning for a huge retrenchment of journalists and other staffers.
According to insiders, the Jains have asked the department heads in Times of India & Economic Times newspapers and TV channels like Times Now and Mirror Now to prepare a list of employees to be sacked. This is nothing but a ruse to keep their profits intact by salary cuts and retrenchments, say many staffers. Another trick used by the owners is to transfer employees to distant areas and get automatic resignation from them.
“More than Rs.1000 crores is the entire Group’s minimum profit after all taxes have been paid. Obviously, due to 40 days of lockdown, there is a drop in the advertisement revenues. But they saved a lot in expenses by cutting the number of pages being printed per edition. Now newspapers are having only 12 or 16 pages while in their heydays they printed more than 40 to 50 pages. Losses are there but manageable comparing the annual profits crossing more than Rs.1000 crores after paying all taxes,” say, staffers, indicating that they would complain to the Government or prefer to go to Court.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Government of India, National Broadcasters Association, and Indian Newspaper Society on the petition filed by various Journalist Unions against salary cuts and retrenchments in the garb of Corona crisis[1].
It is learned that many other journalists who are facing retrenchment threats from Times of India andother media organizations are expected to intervene in this case.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has already filed a petition against Times of India owners Jain brothers accusing huge tax evasion and money laundering by floating series of shell companies[2].
References:
[1] “If Business Does Not Start, How Long Will People Sustain Without Jobs?” SC Issues Notice In Plea Against Media Houses Laying Off Employees Amid Lockdown – Apr 27, 2020, LiveLaw.in
[2] Subramanian Swamy urges probe by Income Tax, ED, CBI, SEBI and SFIO into the huge tax violations, money laundering in Times of India Group – Dec 25, 2019, PGurus.com
References:
[1] “If Business Does Not Start, How Long Will People Sustain Without Jobs?” SC Issues Notice In Plea Against Media Houses Laying Off Employees Amid Lockdown – Apr 27, 2020, LiveLaw.in
[2] Subramanian Swamy urges probe by Income Tax, ED, CBI, SEBI and SFIO into the huge tax violations, money laundering in Times of India Group – Dec 25, 2019, PGurus.com
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