Up to a hundred London-based
journalists, backed by the NUJ, are preparing to
protest against job losses as a leading Arabic media
company plans to move its offices to Dubai.
Staff at H.H.
Saudi Research and Marketing, which produces
18 titles out of its London office, are prepared
to strike if necessary having first been alerted
to the company’s plans when they spotted a
planning application notice proposing that their
offices be turned into an education centre.
Management confirmed this week that redundancies
are anticipated, most of which will be completed
from May to June.
The news follows a fraught period since the new
year during which the company made a dozen well-established
journalists redundant within months of taking on
many young new employees in the same newsroom.
The company, whose Chairman is HRH Prince Faisal
Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, is currently
refusing to honour the redundancy payments outlined
in the sacked journalists’ contracts.
NUJ National Organiser for Magazines, Mike Sherrington,
said: “The twelve journalists from Asharq
Al-Awsat have already been cheated out of their
contractual redundancy terms.
“Those still employed by H.H. Saudi Research
and Marketing are now concerned that they will be
cheated out of their jobs and, like their colleagues,
will have to fight for what is rightfully theirs.
The journalists at the company have shown impressive
solidarity, and I feel confident that they will
win.”
NUJ Assistant Organiser, Fiona Swarbrick, added:
“Some of the journalists concerned were brought
here by the company from countries in the Middle
East on work permits and with the promise of a secure
job. If they lose their jobs, there is a very real
chance that they will have to go back and families
will be torn apart in the process. Considering the
company has just announced a net profit for 2004
of $11.6 million, our members rightly feel that
they can afford to treat their staff fairly.”
A protest will be held outside Arab Press House,
184 High Holborn, London WC1X 8DP on Thursday from
1pm.
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