By Ginaba Lino
South Sudan National Journalists working for the City Review and Al-Hagiga Newspapers have laid down their tools demanding for better pay salaries.
“We, the journalists working for The City Review and Al-Hagiga (Arabic) Newspapers, author this letter to express our deepest concerns and clear the air on the recent events that led to changes in editorial content for these esteemed newspapers.”
In the letter seen by Catholic Radio Network on Monday, it says the notification of the journalists about the increase of their salaries and wages where turned into a bucket of intimidation by the management.
“We notified the management, in writing about the need to. Instead, what we got was a bucket of intimidation.”
The journalist declared not to send stories until the management addressed their grievances.
“Due to the above threats, we declared not to send stories until the management addressed our grievances.”
The South Sudanese staff (journalists) have been staging an industrial go-slow since July 24, 2024, to push the management of RAK MEDIA to listen to their grievances concerning the low payment structure.
The journalists’ regrets the low payment of the nationals, while foreigner’s staff receives more than 250 US dollars, including free accommodation, transport, air tickets, airtime, and food, among others.
“Just to point out a few observations, for example, an expatriate in the editorial department earns not less than USD 2500 and above including free accommodation, transport, air tickets, airtime, and food, among others, meanwhile the highest-paid national staff receives less than 100 USD, paid in pounds.”
“Our demand for a salary increment is something we see as necessary and reasonable since the national staff are paid in South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), and it has become an unreasonable amount due to currency depreciation,” said the National journalists in the letter.
The Journalists appeal to the management to appreciate these facts and address their complaints.
“While we continue to acknowledge the role expatriates play, we therefore appeal to the management to also appreciate these facts and address our complaints.”
They (journalists) “we shall continue to engage the management of RAK MEDIA to ensure that they develop a policy that values the efforts of national staff.
“Considering the prevailing economic situation, we requested the management to review our salaries, a request that has been met with intimidation and downright arrogance.”
According to the journalists, they will maintain their position on this matter until their concerns are addressed.