2 days ago
Hong Kong court convicts Dow Jones over union interference
A Hong Kong court found that Dow Jones tried to stop journalist Selina Cheng from leading a journalists’ union.
The court said the company required her to get permission before becoming chair.
The magistrate said that permission would have been denied.
Cheng said she was later fired after refusing to leave the union and stop advocating for press freedom.
The court did not find enough proof that her firing was illegal.
It said the company might have dismissed her during a real restructuring.
Dow Jones disagreed with the conviction.
The company may face a fine, but the sentence has not yet been decided.
A Hong Kong court convicted Dow Jones of trying to stop journalist Selina Cheng from becoming chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.
The magistrate ruled that Dow Jones required Cheng to seek permission and would not have allowed her to take the union role.
The court acquitted Dow Jones of unlawfully firing Cheng, saying a genuine corporate restructuring could not be ruled out beyond reasonable doubt.
Cheng said she was dismissed by The Wall Street Journal on July 17, 2024, after refusing demands to sever union ties and not advocate for press freedom.
Dow Jones disagreed with the conviction, and sentencing is expected later; each charge carries a maximum fine of HK$100,000.
- Who
- Dow Jones, journalist Selina Cheng, Magistrate David Cheung, and the Hong Kong Journalists Association were involved.
- What
- A Hong Kong court convicted Dow Jones of attempting to prevent Cheng from becoming a registered trade union officer, but acquitted it of unlawfully firing her.
- Where
- Hong Kong.
- When
- The alleged union interference occurred in June 2024; Cheng’s employment ended on July 17, 2024; the ruling was reported on Thursday, Sept. 10.
- Why
- The magistrate said Dow Jones required Cheng to obtain permission to run for chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association and would not have granted it.
Cheng’s position
Dow Jones’s position
Union participation
Cheng’s position
Cheng said her former employer had no right to require employees to consult it before joining or holding office in a union.
Dow Jones’s position
Dow Jones pleaded not guilty and said it remained respectful of Hong Kong labour laws and supportive of employee rights.
Reason for dismissal
Cheng’s position
Cheng said she was fired after refusing demands to sever ties with the Hong Kong Journalists Association and not advocate for press freedom.
Dow Jones’s position
Dow Jones was acquitted because the court said a genuine corporate restructuring could not be ruled out beyond reasonable doubt.
Meaning of the case
Cheng’s position
Cheng said the case raised awareness of union suppression and that weakly protected employment rights could prevent reporters from working safely.
Dow Jones’s position
Dow Jones said it disagreed with the conviction and was evaluating its next steps.
Key facts
- Company
- Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal
- Journalist
- Selina Cheng, who covered China’s automobile sector in Hong Kong
- Union role
- Chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association
- Conviction
- Attempting to block Cheng from exercising her trade-union rights
- Acquittal
- The allegation that Dow Jones unlawfully terminated Cheng’s employment
- Maximum fine
- HK$100,000 for each charge
- Next step
- Sentencing is expected at a later date
Quotes
Dow Jones spokesperson
Spokesperson for Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal
“The Wall Street Journal has a long and proud history as an employer in Hong Kong. Throughout that time, we have remained deeply respectful of its labour laws and supportive of our employees’ rights, while publishing excellent, impartial journalism about the region.”
theprint.in
“If reporters’ employment rights are not sufficiently safeguarded or when their rights are violated and not enforced in law, then we can no longer work safely as reporters.”
theprint.in
Sources
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