Arise TV has issues with pay

• 2016-12-13

  An Arise employee writes…

  My name is Danada Shiverdecker. I started with Arise October 2016. Thus far, I have received 1 paycheck. It is now December and I’m coming upon pay period number two, where I have not been paid! I was to be paid November 30, 2016 and was notified that I would not be due to an issue with a glitch in the system.

  I was told that this issue needed to be investigated, but would be resolved by the next pay period. It is pay period number three and still no pay.
  
  Now I’m told it will be resolved by the next pay period again! I have all proof of approved waivers for the issues I have had and still no pay.
  
  I have decided to contact an attorney regarding this issue. No one should have to work for free. There is no reason I or anyone else should have to go without pay. Time to let the attorneys handle it.
  

  Good for you Danada! Hopefully others will see the need for firm action.

  Danada is based in Michigan.
  

• 2015-12-12

  Anonymous asked: I have had major payment issues with Arise New York, still outstanding more than a year after leaving. I was paid late multiple times, accrued returned check fees I was never reimbursed for and then had sent to me an over inflated W/2 tax form for double the amount I made there. While waiting for resolution I was FORCED to pay taxes On salary I never made or received. The NY payroll/HR director refuses to comply with a revised W/2, saying she "would get me one soon". That was in September. Help!

  Thanks for getting in touch.  Can anyone familiar with US/NY law/best practice advise?

  Are there any good union locals or workers’ centres  who could offer advice?

  It’d be great to hear more from the US. Send us updates!

• 2015-12-04

  Nigerian news channel with office in UK under pressure over slow payments | Press Gazette

  Good to see more coverage of Nduka’s nonsense.

• 2015-11-27

  The struggle (to get paid) continues…

  Nduka has once again been surprised, he claims, by the trouble, which he discovers anew every few months, of moving money out of Nigeria. This email speaks for itself.  

  From: Alan Rook [email address redacted]
  Date: 20 November 2015 at 18:13:46 GMT
  To: LON All Staff <lonallstaff@arise.tv>
  Cc: [Redacted]

  
  Subject: PAYMENT

  
  Dear all, 

  I’m very sorry that there’s been so little word on money from ARISE in recent days… I’m told there have been major efforts underway in Nigeria to solve the issues that have caused us all problems. For our part, Mark, Lucy and myself have been pressing for updates every day - and also asking for communication on the issue across the wider team. 

  Every one of us, of course, is understandably keen to hear developments on payroll - September’s overdue balance and also the October fees now also overdue, as well as matters of arrears from earlier in the year, for those affected by that. 

  So, what can I tell you? 

  Well, Nduka has told me this afternoon that he has been reluctant to make any definite statements to staff after being frustrated by banking delays and restrictions in Nigeria - problems that he says have affected his best endeavours to deliver due payments as planned.  He says an example of that - which we can all read about online - are the many currency applications this week that have ultimately been limited by the Nigerian Central Bank to just 10 per cent of the total applied for. 

  Nduka tells me some cash for ARISE has gone through.  He says that means payments to staff can continue on Monday - with the aim of settling all of September and all of October as soon as he can manage it across the coming days. He expects to have a more definite explanation of what exactly that means after this weekend.

  Beyond all that, Nduka says that he well understands why many freelancers have felt they’ve had to stand down while they wait for overdue payment. He says he regrets the inconvenience the payment lag is causing staff and that the compromised output is something he certainly wants ended as soon as possible.

  ​Mark Southgate will be making a trawl for December availability as soon as September and October are successfully paid-up. Detail of enhanced rates for Bank Holidays will be included in that. And that is all I know at this time.  

  Kind regards ​

  Alan
  
  

• 2015-09-17

  Engineers in London owed thousands in back pay

  Although we reported a few months ago that the non-payment issues of freelance correspondence who were working for the London office were resolved – although some people are paid more than a year late – it seems that the payment issues at Arise TV are ongoing.

  Word reaches us that many of the engineers have done freelance work over the past year are owed several thousand pounds. Senior management are averting to their old tricks: not paying up and not replying to emails.

  Several members of staff of gone to the trade union Bectu. We’d encourage anyone to think twice about working for Arise TV, and if you do, make sure you are a member of the union.

  Hopefully Bectu will press this issue and take legal action if necessary.

• →

  Anonymous asked: What is the problem with repeats on Arise Tv at the moment, is it still the salary issue?

  I’d guess so. Drop us an email if you have information on arisedoesntpay@gmail.com

• →

  Anonymous asked: what about NY issues. its much more salacious.

  We’ve heard rumours but need someone to give us the story direct from the horse’s mouth. Email us on arisedoesntpay@gmail.com - anonymity guaranteed!

• 2015-04-11

  Arise seems to have paid – for now!

  Nduka Obaigbena’s Arise TV seems to have paid the freelancers who are owed money and who we are in touch with – in some cases after a wait of over a year.

  It may be that there are others who have not yet been paid who we are not in touch with.

  If you have still not been paid, or if this issue of non-payment by Arise emerges again, please feel free to get in touch on arisedoesntpay@gmail.com

• 2015-04-01

  Nduka’s friend Goodluck Jonathan has been voted out by Nigerians - what next for Arise TV?

  The “Chairman” – Nduka Obaigbena – is well known to be close to Goodluck Jonathan, who was booted out by Nigerians in a presidential election this week. The victory of former general Muhammadu Buhari, announced yesterday, has understandably caused concern amongst some Arise employees: political connections are important in Nigerian business, and the fear is that without a direct line to the top, Nduka is going to have even more trouble finding cash to pay wages than he has in the past.

  The below email was sent shortly after the results were announced.

  
  

  From: Gary Anthony Ramsay
  Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 5:40 PM
  To: Arise360; [redacted
  Cc: [redacted]
  Subject: Tuesday
  
  Hello Entertainment teams, 

  I know it is still unclear about the Arise USA structure, who to ask questions, etc. I wanted to include you all in the emails I am sending to the News teams as a courtesy since some of you have expressed that you feel like you have been left in the dark.
  >>>>>>>  

  Well the election is over and Muhammadu Buhari is the next President of Nigeria.The question that many of you are asking is “what does this mean for Arise and more importantly what does this mean for getting paid?” 

  I don’t know what Nduka’s plans are for paying us.  I spoke to the Chairman briefly this morning and the call ended before getting to the issue of pay.   Now that this big major event has been decided I hope to compel him to deal with payroll so that we can get back to production. 

  Nduka was in business during the Mr. Buhari’s first term and people in London and Africa are saying that Jonathon’s loss is not a bad thing for Nduka or Arise.  Only the Chairman can offer the clearest vision of what happens next and when. 

  If any of you have questions please don’t hesitate to ask me or Beryl directly.  

  Rumors do not help our already tenuous situation.  Thanks for your patience,  

  Gary Anthony Ramsay

  
  Director of U.S. News, Operations & Public Affairs
  Arise USA

• 2015-03-12

  Nduka writes!

  Record of a meeting with Arise TV staff in London.

  From: Nduka Obaigbena
  Sent: 10 March 2015 08:14
  To: Kevin Fitzpatrick; Nduka Obaigbena
  Subject: RE: Notes of Meeting with Nduka Obaigbena - 9 March - V2 As amended. 

  Notes of Meeting with Nduka Obaigbena

  Monday 9 March 2015 - 11:00am

  New Zealand House – 12^th Floor Studio

  Nduka started by apologising for the delay in payments and explaining that the market for foreign currency in Nigeria has recently become illiquid ahead of the postponed presidential elections on March 28.  This is restricting his ability to get US Dollars or GB Pounds in order to make payments. The lack of liquidity for foreign currency is due to a combination of the drop in oil prices and the uncertainty surrounding the Presidential election.  In order to check capital flight from the country and a depletion of Government reserves, the Central Bank is restricting the amount of foreign currency that is available through the official and interbank trading channels. Despite these challenges, he is doing all he can to got the required USD/GPB to make payments this week and next. However, in a worst case scenario it could mean that funds to make payments will not reach the UK until after the election at the end of March.  If funds can be made available sooner they will be paid out as and when received. 

  He stressed that everyone will be paid - no matter what - and eventually become current with payments by the first week of April 

  A large majority ( 90)%) of people have been paid for November and some people have been paid for December.  The following has been agreed for those who are still unpaid for November or December.

     ·   November -  compensation of 20%  extra - on top of the November amount when it is paid.
     ·   December - continue to claim compensation at the rate of half a day rate for every week that payment is late.  It is likely this will equate to 20% by the time it is paid.

  Additionally January was due to be paid on 7 March and is now likely to be delayed.  People can claim compensation at the rate of half a day rate for every week that payment is late but all compensation is available to those in continuing service. 

  Next meeting: Thursday 2 April.
  

  ==

  “All compensation is available to those in continuing service.” Does this mean, “keep me afloat by working for no money and you just might get paid”?
  

  Also, no promise being made here to freelance correspondents out in the field, some of whom haven’t been paid for months, and don’t even seem to merit email replies, let alone compensation for the late payment.