Tension mounts at TV3

TV3 is arguably Ghana's foremost private free-to-air (FTA) television network Part of the write-up on TV3 Network Limited in the July, 2009 edition of the Ghana Club 100 magazine states, "TV3 is arguably Ghana's foremost private free-to-air (FTA) television network”. Unfortunately, if the Malaysian Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Syed Ahmad Zaidi does not get his act together, his station could be at a standstill as he seems to be ill advised on certain issues, including the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), which is another name for voluntary redundancy. The application form for the VSS states in part, "I, as the name depicted above, would like to apply voluntarily without being forced or persuaded by any parties to participate in the voluntary separation scheme offered by TV3 Network Limited." The VSS is not what is irritating the staff; it's what TV3 Network Limited wants to offer. TV3 management is offering three months per every year worked, take it or leave it, offer. This is because the senior staff of TV3 does not have any association to take care of its needs, as the junior staff has. Section 65 of the 2003 Labour Act, states in sub-section (a) that the employer shall "provide in writing to the Chief Labour Officer and the trade union concerned, not later than three months before the contemplated changes, all relevant information including the reasons for the termination, the number and categories of workers likely to be affected and, the period within which any termination is to be carried out..." Another reason for discomfort are the salary levels, which many members of staff consider as discriminatory. Documents available indicates that the basic salary of the Director of Finance, Mr. Roland Ajetunmobi is about GH¢4, 000 (¢40 million), swelling up to GH¢5,625 (¢56.2m). However, the basic salary of the Head of Engineering - about GH¢1, 692; Head of Production, GH¢ 1, 283; Head of News, GH¢1, 200; Head of Current Affairs, GH¢1,200 and News Readers who are also termed as Co-ordinators, less than GH¢500. Source: Daily Dispatch/Ghana