Key facts
- The Canary news outlet is facing financial difficulties, with staff not being paid.
- Lloyds Bank blocked access to a substantial amount of the outlet's funds.
- Some employees allege financial mismanagement and that significant funding has been squandered.
- Staff have unionized and are working with the NUJ to address concerns.
- The outlet's CEO acknowledged mistakes in internal communications and is discussing concerns with employees.
Staff at the left-wing news outlet The Canary have not been paid, raising fears for the website's future. The outlet cited issues with Lloyds Bank blocking access to its funds, while some employees allege financial mismanagement and that significant investments have been squandered.
Workers at The Canary, founded in 2015, have unionized and are working with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) to address their concerns. A staff meeting was reportedly told that a substantial injection of funds, believed to be over £2 million, had been largely spent, with approximately £400,000 remaining to sustain operations until December.
In addition to payment difficulties, the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) has reported late pension contributions by the company. Some staff also claim they were asked to sign non-negotiable non-disclosure agreements earlier this year. CEO Steve Topple acknowledged that the company had made mistakes in its internal communications and expressed concerns about the organization's integrity and reputational risk.
Lloyds Bank closed The Canary's account without warning, reportedly confiscating all company cash reserves. The outlet's spokesperson stated that payment difficulties were solely due to these 'debanking' issues. The NUJ confirmed it is working with staff and management to ensure the continued stability of The Canary.