'RCTI' staff seek legal advice over dismissals

'RCTI' staff seek legal advice over dismissals

JAKARTA (JP): Three employees of privately owned television
station RCTI visited the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on
Wednesday, representing 80 disgruntled colleagues in seeking
legal counsel on their planned dismissal.

Institute lawyer Christina Rini, who met with representatives
Antonius, Lia and Ferry, said the employees strongly opposed the
management's dismissal plan because no clear reason was provided.

The employees are the first batch to be dismissed in the
station's plan to cut up to 30 percent of its workforce.

Rini said the employees deplored the management's decision to
convey notices by courier on Tuesday night, requesting their
presence at Apartemen Kuningan in South Jakarta on Wednesday to
sign letters of resignation prepared by RCTI lawyer Amir
Syamsuddin.

"The employees rejected complying with the invitation letters,
which were not on RCTI letterhead," the lawyer said.

According to Rini, the television station management announced
on Feb. 17 it would dismiss at least 30 percent of its employees,
including reporters and cameramen, in stages beginning on March
1.

The announcement did not state the precise number of employees
to be dismissed, but Rini quoted the employees as saying RCTI
would fire 400.

RCTI public relations manager Eduard Depari said on Friday the
station planned to lay off from 20 percent to 30 percent of its
620 regular employees effective on March 1, pending manpower
ministry approval.

In its notice, Rini said, the management promised severance
pay and other compensation to employees in accordance with
manpower regulations.

"The management will also give golden handshakes worth Rp 5
million to each of the employees and other incentives to those
who agreed to resign today (Wednesday)."

The management claims it discussed the dismissals with the
employees several times, she said.

But employees countered the assertion was untrue because
management only discussed the plan on Feb. 8, Rini said.

Staff members rejected the notice of dismissal as the
management broke past promises there would be no layoffs, she
added.

RCTI management contended layoffs were needed because of
plummeting ad revenue of about Rp 90 billion, she said.

"With the dismissal of its 400 employees, the station could
save Rp 5 billion in their spending," she quoted the employees as
saying.

Eduard could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

On Friday, he said the station was forced to enact cost-saving
measures in all aspects of its operations, but still could not
avoid resorting to layoffs.

He added that political uncertainty also contributed to the
decision.

Late last night, one of the employee representatives visiting
the institute, Antonius, told The Jakarta Post that the station's
executives held an abrupt meeting with staff later on Wednesday.

He said employees agreed to confidentiality on the matters
discussed.

"All I can say is that there is a good sign from the board of
directors about our fate."

Separately, lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said on Wednesday his
office decided not to serve as counsel for the station in its
dispute with employees.

"It would represent a conflict of interest because I earlier
supported the establishment of the Indonesian Television
Journalists Association," Amir said. (jun)