Laid-off journalists to file lawsuit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Employees of Forum Keadilan weekly newsmagazine
\nsaid on Thursday that they planned to file a lawsuit against the
\nboard of directors following the management's decision to lay off
\n25 staff members, including nine senior journalists.<\/p>\n
Sen Tjiauw, one of the magazine's editors, told a news
\nconference at the Legal Aid Institute (LBH)'s office that the
\nmanagement did not explain in detail the decision for the layoff
\nbut disclosed that the employees were laid off because they held
\n\"a secret meeting in Cibubur, East Jakarta\".<\/p>\n
Sen Tjiauw said that the 25 employees, including himself, held
\na meeting in Cibubur several days ago to find a way to save the
\nmagazine's future amid sluggish business. \"There was nothing
\nsecret about the meeting as we informed our deputy chief editor
\nTony Hasyim, who had also given his approval,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other 24 employees were also present at Thursday's news
\nconference. They were accompanied by lawyers from LBH and the
\nAlliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) as well as private
\nlawyers, such as Hotma Sitompul, Moh. Djafar Assegaf, Tommy
\nSihotang and Lutfi Yazid from the office of Yusril Ihza and
\nMahendra.<\/p>\n
\"On Aug. 20, Rahmat Ismail, the president of PT Forum Adil
\nMandiri, which publishes the magazine, along with Tony and our
\nchief editor Noorca M. Massardi, held another meeting at Rahmat's
\nhouse in Simprug, South Jakarta. They also invited other
\nemployees who had not attended the Cibubur meeting.<\/p>\n
\"During the meeting they decided to lay us off for six months
\nand to cut our monthly salaries in half,\" Sen Tjiauw said.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that the company was in financial trouble due to
\nmismanagement over the last two years. Despite the problems,
\nhowever, shareholders were reluctant to invite new investors.<\/p>\n
\"The stance that management has taken only shows that they do
\nnot have good intentions for the company's future. If they were
\nreally bankrupt, just declare it,\" Sen Tjiauw said.<\/p>\n
Rita Olivia of LBH expressed concern over the fate of the
\nlocal journalists, who, she said, had been fighting for their
\nrights for a long time but were forced to submit to the
\nshareholders' authority.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, Forum chief editor Noorca Massardi said
\nthat the dispute between management and its employees was an
\ninternal matter. He further said that it was the employees' right
\nto take legal action.<\/p>\n
\"We have no comment on the issue,\" Noorca told The Jakarta
\nPost. (tso)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/laid-off-journalists-to-file-lawsuit-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}