Journalists' Organisations Demand Payment of Dues to UNI Employees

The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Federation (APWJF), in a press release, have demanded that the employees of the United News of India (UNI) be paid their dues "as the first priority during any financial settlement conducted by the National Company Law Tribunal to sell the struggling news agency." 

The NCLT had invited bids to sell the struggling agency through a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process in April 2023 after prolonged litigation by employees to claim their dues. 

There were reports of multiple bids earlier this month; however, the latest information in the public domain is that there would be a single bid by Rakesh Ramanbhai Shah, a relative of Gautam Adani. 

The journalists' bodies fear that in the absence of competitive bidding, the agency may be sold for a lower price, adversely affecting its employees. 

"During the insolvency process, claims were invited from creditors, including both employees and ex-employees. Over 700 employees, including those on contract and stringers, submitted claims amounting to approximately Rs 125 crore. Employees have not been getting salaries since March 2017, and the dues to each employee range from Rs 18 to Rs 42 lakhs. Those who took Voluntary Retirement in 2010 have received only half the package promised."

Furthermore, the agency also owes a huge sum to the State Bank of India, and it is feared that in the likelihood of a sale, they may get only a fraction of the amount they are due. 

"In a joint statement, the NAJ, DUJ and APWJF demand that all dues to present and former employees, including the heirs of those who have died waiting for settlement of their dues, must be immediately paid their entire dues upfront, in a fair manner. The rights of employees must come first, before the gains of banks and corporate entities."