Penza, 21 April 2015. PenzaNews. The Russian Union of Journalists has learned about the situation with overdue wages regarding 35 employees of the Penza TRBC “Express.”

Currently, the information is under review in the Secretariat, which is to decide what to do next, Givi Tsatsua, head of RUJ legal department, told PenzaNews agency.

According to him, the legal department of the Russian Union of Journalists is ready to provide the necessary legal assistance to the broadcasting company employees, but the journalists themselves have already taken the necessary first steps.

“Based on the information we have, they [TRBC ‘Express’ staff] have already sent a claim [to the State Labor Inspection, the prosecutor’s office], and practically they have taken the first steps. But then, they, of course, need public support,” the agency interlocutor stressed.

He noted that before any action, the SLI legal department must thoroughly study the necessary documents.

“We have no other documents except for this claim [of overdue wages signed by 35 ‘Express’ employees]. I am a lawyer, so I should have the documents. Of course, I believe that there wages are not paid, and so on, but I need to see all the documentation relevant to this case. These are the orders, accounting documents, job descriptions and others. When they are studied, we will be able to come with some conclusion and act legally,” the agency interlocutor explained.

He also said that so far Penza branch of RUJ provided no such documents.

Givi Tsatsua also expressed regrets about the fact that many journalists in the regions are more poorly educated in legal matters than their employers, and, as a result, there are a lot of labor disputes that do not always end in favor of the employees.

“Our journalists, and not only them, are not savvy enough in legal issues, and this is one of the troubles. When applying for a job, people do not read the employment contract, and often do not see it at all. [...] In contrast to an individual employee, the employer is usually better prepared in the legal matters, and he initially takes measures to ensure that he is right, and the employee – well, it is understandable, but there is no formal reason,” the head of the RUJ legal department summed up.