The Kenya Union of Journalists has raised concerns over how the Standard Media Group restructuring exercise is being handled. Here is the letter by KUJ chairman Oscar Obonyo over the ongoing retrenchment of staff.
Dear comrades,
As you are fully aware, SGL’s execution of VER (voluntary early retirement) and redundancies is under way and some of us are already out of the establishment. Last time we had a consultative meeting at our (I mean the group’s) Mombasa Road offices, I communicated to you the position of our KUJ/COTU lawyers, which was that at that point, the management had followed due process in handling the exercise.We (KUJ officials) equally informed you that our team of lawyers will come into the picture once the execution of the exercise takes effect. That is now happening and SGL is gradually falling back on its very own word and promise. Following concerns by those of us who applied for VER and are already out, we (Secretary General Eric Oduor and myself) came to the SGL offices yesterday (Thursday 6th, 2015) and had an informal meeting with HR Director, Pauline Kiraithe.
Although the CEO, Sam Shollei, promised to pay out monies to those who voluntarily opted out by end of last month (he made the commitment in writing and we all have copies), that has not happened. The management has also not honoured a follow up undertaking (copy of letter also available) stating that figures of the payout shall be made available to members before their exit. The group is also behind schedule on timelines of execution of redundancies. Not that we want this hastened, but we are just pointing out legal holes in the correspondence and promises of the management.
Briefly, this is the case we laid before the HR boss: That payouts have delayed and the same should be hastened and paid in accordance with figures worked out in calculator software that the management provided. We hope the final figures will not be downgraded, as the union will take it as a deliberate trap to coerce staffers out of employment.
SHE PROMISED TO EFFECT PAYMENTS FROM MONDAY (10th, AUGUST).
We also presented the case of those who applied for VER but were turned down either because the compensation figures in question were too high or as the management explained they were “highly valued staffers”. The union position is, if you applied and feel you are psychologically no longer prepared to work at SGL, you ought to be released.
THE HR DIRECTOR MAINTAINS THE MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO GRANT OR DECLINE VER REQUEST.
We expressed concern that the exercise may be targeting union officials (KUJ Chairman – myself) and KUP’s representative, Mr Okoth), have already exited, albeit on voluntary basis. Other union members already out include, Juma Kwayera, Stephen Makabila and Kwamboka Oyaro. This already forms a huge percentage of the less than 15 journalists, who in our knowledge have so far left the establishment. These are already too many for the union and we asked that our members be spared from being declared redundant in the upcoming phase two – lest we declare it a discriminatory exercise.
SHE DENIED THAT SGL WAS TARGETING UNION MEMBERS AND PROMISED THAT THE EXERCISE SHALL BE CARRIED OUT IN ACORDANCE WITH KUJ CBA AND EXISTING LABOUR LAWS.
Finally, as we have said before, we are monitoring the execution of this painful exercise and our offices (International House, Mama Ngina street, first floor, suite).
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