Let us show the world Al Jazeera how your staff are treated
The world needs to know how Al Jazzera looks at 'every angle'.
Dear fellow staff,
We all came to the middle east with one purpose, and that was to do
the best job we could and be a part of the birth of a potentially great
24hr news channel.
After working for some of the biggest names in television my experiences
with Al Jazeera has left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I have
watched while colleagues have left due to their dissatisfaction with
policies and policy changes.
Some of these policy changes have prompted contact with a high profile
lawyer based in London. His suggestion to me is we file a class action
against Al Jazeera which he will undertake on a Pro Bono basis.
Due to the possible high profile a case such as this will create he has
asked that anyone interested in adding their name to an already growing
list of names(31 so far) to do so as this will only serve to strengthen our
case. The more names we present at court translates to a much higher
profile and will attract worldwide media attention - we feed best on our own.
The major issues affecting us all appear to be:
1 The obvious rewriting of the Al Jazeera dental policy.
2 The removal of items in new contracts that were part of the original contract affecting our bottom line.
3 Flights home being cut back to one.
4 Freelancers promised with full time work that never comes to fruition.
5 The constant issue of journalists & editors claims being reimbursed.
There are a few more but to name them all would be far too laborious.
We must make a stand & let Al Jazeera know that their behavior in
some circumstances is immoral, dishonest and in the case of applying
policy change retroactively - ILLEGAL.
Remember:
Your details WILL be kept confidential.
If you are here on a two year contract Al Jazeera must honor this to the letter.
Each and every name helps our legal standpoint.
As industrial action is not an option in Qatar this is our only choice.
***There will be no cost to you***
Reply to this email with your name, department, job description and a
rough outline of your grievance.
Amnesia & Mira you are right
Unfortunately this is pure rubbish if your contract has expired or is going to expire and you don't like the new contract (that is if you are offered a contract renewal), then you don't accept the new contract and go home. Ridiculous that you and 31 other people think you can sue over something like this. Do you understand your current employer does not have to renew your 2yr contract at all?
And of course some silly lawyer will do it pro bono, it's free publicity like amnesia stated.
This is the silliest thing I have read in a long time.
I don't see how there is a case unless they changed the contract AFTER they joined and during their term (not probation).
Also if it stated that the terms could change they have the right to.
The only case would be to claim that the company 'lured' an individual with the intention to change the policy at a later date.
If they prove that there was a clear justification for the change (e.g. need to cut costs for example AND that there was clear notice) then that lawyer would be slammed down.
I think that this case was taken by the lawyer simply to gain attention, especially because it would be great publicity to go against Al Jazeera.
Here is my advice (nothing more than personal opinion)
1 The obvious rewriting of the Al Jazeera dental policy.
- If Dental is mentioned as an unstable benefid then no argument
- Main argument = Dental was a key factor to taking the job.
2 The removal of items in new contracts that were part of the original contract affecting our bottom line.
- If it's a new contract that means that the person is under a probationary term. That means that the contract isn't fully enforced. You sign a contract to sign a contract.
- Main argument = Change in terms were not forseeable. Time wasted if not mentioned.
3 Flights home being cut back to one.
- You would ONLY have a case if you could prove that you had a vacation long enough to allow more than one flight back. Legally (internationally), a company only has to give an allowance towards one flight a year.
- Main argument = health or personal reasons requiring additional flights.
4 Freelancers promised with full time work that never comes to fruition.
- A freelancer is nothing more than a freelancer. Sadly a promise is nothing more than a word if not in writing and not in a professional scenario.
- Main argument = To prove that the job was taken as a condition to acceptance of a job NOT as freelance work.
5 The constant issue of journalists & editors claims being reimbursed
- The strongest case here. Reimbursement has to be made in accordance to policy. For this I advise a STRONG hand and unity in a formal meeting. IF there has been NO formal meeting, the case would be delayed and most likely it would be settled anyway and you'd just end up wasting time.
^_^
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i can totally see where your coming from.
they really screwed me over.
i just hope that the rest of the people still there keep their eyes wide open because no one will have your back but yourself.
I mean no one
Thanx
I would have thought Al-Jazeera, being a reputable news agency, would at least practice an acceptable degree of professionalism versus let's say, a majority of the local companies (re: Qatar Airways case). What hopes are there for the rest of them.....
But still, HR no matter where, would still screw you.
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Everybody wears a mask.