Government verdict shocks MBC employees

Last week Monday government called for an emergency meeting with officials of the Board that runs the state broadcaster whose employees were planning to go on strike on Tuesday 23 August 2011. The MBC employees had threatened to go on strike to force management to improve working conditions and disparities in salaries between those working for the television section to those working for the radio section.

Government indicated that by 30 August 2011, the fate of the employees that will be retained and those that would be laid off will be known, a move expected to help government 'appropriately adjust salaries' for the grumbling media workers.

Employees learn their fate

When Tuesday 30 August came, the media workers were shocked when they received letters that were in conflict with demands laid down by the Electronic Media Workers Union (EMWU). Among other things, the union demanded that government harmonise salaries for radio and television staff and that those redeployed to other government departments, should not be demoted.

However, letters to the employees were indicating to the contrary as a former principal editor whose salary was in the ranges of K70 000, had his salary reduced to K15 000 after his redeployment to the Ministry of Education headquarters where he will work as a clerical officer.

"I have a degree in journalism and [I am about] to graduate for masters in political science. The M grade I have been given does not reflect my qualifications and professional experience," the former principal editor was quoted as saying in an interview with The Nation, where he further indicated that he will not take up this position which was effective today, 1 September 2011.

The daily has also quoted an anonymous labour expert who has said it is illegal to reduce one's salary under whatever circumstance unless it is a disciplinary action over misconduct.

EMWU chairperson Augustine Lubani said out of approximately 700 employees at MBC only 413 still have their jobs.

"The rest have been redeployed to ministries of Information and Civic Education, Science and Technology; departments of the Auditor General and Statistics while others have been retired," Lubani added.

Lubani said that it is unfortunate that those who have been retained have been demoted. Some have gone four steps downwards, from an assistant controller to a principal producer.

"That is adding insult to injury because we in the radio were fighting for harmonisation of salaries with our TV colleagues," he said.

Lubani said he opted to retire in protest of the merger and he has been given his severance pay, one months notice and repatriation pay and has been told to wait for three months for his pension contribution.