The Workers’ Union of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) has expressed deep concerns over the conduct of Director-General Eugene L. Fahngon, creating a hostile, unproductive, and unsustainable working environment for employees.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the LBS workers said Mr. Fahngon’s leadership has eroded the morale and safety of employees, threatened job security, and impaired our ability to fulfill our mission.
The workers outlined their grievances against Mr. Fahngon supported by a 10-count petition that represents their demands and calls for immediate remedial actions.
The group said Mr. Fahngon has displayed a consistent pattern of authoritarianism, making unilateral decisions that affect the work environment without consulting senior managers or departmental heads.
In count 2, the workers said the core responsibilities of any employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of its employees. However, under Mr. Fahngon’s leadership, LBS employees lack basic health and accident insurance, leaving them vulnerable to financial distress in case of accidents or health emergencies, while demanding that comprehensive insurance coverage be instituted for all employees without delay.
The statement also alarmed many contractors, who depend on their LBS work to support their livelihoods, have faced extensive payment delays, sometimes spanning months. This has caused unnecessary hardship for many families and creates an unreliable work environment. Immediate measures must be taken to ensure that contractors are compensated in a timely and consistent manner.
“Numerous employees at LBS are being compensated below the standards set forth by the Civil Service Agency. This not only undermines the well-being of employees but also contravenes national labor laws. We call upon the management to immediately adjust salaries to comply with CSA guidelines and to compensate employees for past discrepancies,” the statement.
The LBS workers said there is an ongoing issue of verbal abuse and disrespect directed at senior management colleagues by Mr. Fahngon, adding that such conduct is unprofessional, disrupts the cooperative functioning of departments, and ultimately damages the reputation of LBS as a government institution, and respect for all colleagues, especially those in leadership roles, must be enforced and maintained.
The remaining counts of the workers’ statement include Hostile Working Environment and Threats of Dismissal, Lack of Proper Communication Channels and Neglect of Worker Welfare and Development Programs, Inadequate Infrastructure and Work Resources as well as Failure to Address Employee Grievances.
The Workers’ Union of LBS said it is committed to promoting a fair and productive work environment for all employees and believes that every worker deserves respect, fair compensation, and a safe, supportive workplace, saying that their demands are reasonable, lawful, and in the best interest of the institution.
“We call upon the Government of Liberia, the Liberia Broadcasting System Board of Directors, and all relevant authorities to take our concerns seriously and to hold Mr. Fahngon accountable for the issues outlined in this petition. Failure to address these matters promptly will force the Workers’ Union to explore other means of redress, including lawful industrial actions, to secure our rights and safeguard our workplace,” the LBS workers said.
The aggrieved body said the issues facing LBS under Mr. Fahngon’s leadership are a threat not only to the well-being of employees but also to the institution’s ability to fulfill its public mandate. As a government-funded entity, the workers said the LBS has a duty to uphold the highest standards of ethical and fair treatment for its employees. We urge all stakeholders to act swiftly to restore the integrity of our workplace.
According to the statement, the Workers’ Union stands ready to engage in open dialogue with management and to work collaboratively toward meaningful reforms that protect the interests of all LBS employees but demanded an immediate implementation of insurance coverage for all LBS employees, fair and timely compensation for both employees and contractors, improvement in resource allocation to ensure employees have the tools they need, establishment of a grievance redress mechanism that allows employees to report issues without fear, and commitment to regular communication and respectful treatment of all staff members.
The workers said addressing these issues is not only a matter of employee satisfaction but also essential for maintaining the credibility and integrity of the Liberia Broadcasting System. “Should these grievances continue unaddressed, we reserve the right to pursue further actions to safeguard our rights and ensure accountability within the workplace,” the statement said.
