Newsroom
NUJ calls on luxury book publisher to pay wages
Opus Media Group plc publish large print, glossy, luxury books which run into hundreds of pages and often weigh over 30kg. The luxury books are sold for up to £3,000 each and have featured the likes of Manchester United, Ferrari, and Formula 1. Opus Media Group recently announced the publication of a new book on cycling champion Bradley Wiggins.
However the company has failed to pay some editorial staff their salaries since May 2012.
The NUJ office in Glasgow has been representing Opus Media Group employees who had not been paid a wage.
The company claimed cash flow difficulties and summarily closed its Glasgow office in August leaving employees unpaid.
Other writers, photographer and freelancers have also been in touch with the NUJ about not being paid by Opus Media Group.
The NUJ has recently taken Opus Media Group to an Employment Tribunal in Glasgow. The Tribunal ordered Opus Media Group plc to pay former members of staff their outstanding salaries. However the company is yet to do so.
Dominic Bascombe, NUJ Assistant Organiser in Glasgow took the claim on behalf of members to the Tribunal. He said:
“This is a shocking example of how an employer can refuse to pay hardworking staff what they are owed. The Employment Tribunal rightly found that Opus Media Group should pay staff what they are owed.
“It is shocking that a company working with high profile individuals such as Bradley Wiggins, Bernie Ecclestone, and Vivienne Westwood, would treat their staff so appallingly.”
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “Opus Media is based in Jersey and the company is promoted as a luxury brand, at the same time they have not paid out wages owed for work. The company may not implement the ruling so we are asking Opus Media clients and consumers to help us tell the company they should pay staff now.”
