Tamedia: No social plan despite renewed protests

This was announced at the Tamedia press conference on Thursday. Tamedia had offered to improve the present, criticized social plan by 30 percent. However, the personnel committee of Landbote, Zürichsee-Zeitung and Unterländer did not accept this offer, said Tamedia spokesman Christoph Zimmer. Instead, he said, it had consistently insisted on the benefits of Tamedia's 2009 social plan. That social plan was negotiated for Tages-Anzeiger layoffs and offered better benefits "compared to the current offer." However, Tamedia does not want to put together this package for the employees of the regional newspapers. Zimmer justified this decision by saying that the economic environment for media companies had changed significantly since 2009. For example, newspaper advertising revenues in Switzerland have fallen by 200 million francs.

"A fair offer"

The offer was fair, said Tamedia CEO Christoph Tonini. He said it was regrettable that it had not been possible to negotiate a social plan in this case. "But if you are called anti-social, I have no understanding for that," he continued. Tonini was thus alluding to the protests by those affected and the unions, who repeatedly called the publishing house "anti-social." On Thursday morning, around 50 employees of the regional newspapers as well as union representatives protested against the "asocial plan" with a concert of whistles in front of the Tamedia building. Three weeks ago, a similar demonstration had already taken place in front of the Landbote headquarters in Winterthur (Werbewoche.ch reported). For Tamedia, however, the issue of the social plan is closed, said Zimmer. Another demonstration of discontent took place in Lausanne in the afternoon.

Tamedia is cutting a total of 25 jobs at its regional newspapers (Werbewoche.ch reported). Due to numerous departures in recent weeks, however, only about 15 jobs will probably have to be cut. From June, the regional newspapers will then appear with a new structure and layout. Externally, Landbote, Zürcher Unterländer and Zürichsee-Zeitung will in future be based on the Berner Zeitung. The background to the realignment is the takeover of Landbote by Tamedia.

Protests also in French-speaking Switzerland

There were also demonstrations against the Zurich media company in Lausanne on Thursday. In front of the Edipresse tower, around 100 employees protested against downsizing measures and staff transfers, which, according to the syndicom union, would also be handled without a fair social plan. Although the results had declined, they remained good, said Christian Campiche, vice president of the union Imprint. Tamedia had announced an austerity program in spring 2013, which also affects the media in French-speaking Switzerland. Among others, this applies to the titles Le Matin, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève. In addition, the future of the newspaper Le Temps is open, which has been put up for sale by the majority shareholders Tamedia and Ringier. (SDA)