Tamedia employees in French-speaking Switzerland continue strike
An end to the labor dispute at Tamedia in French-speaking Switzerland is not in sight for the time being. The employees are continuing their strike against the discontinuation of Le Matin. At the same time, the parties want to return to the negotiating table.
This was decided by the general assembly of editors in Lausanne on Wednesday. It was noted that the Tamedia management wanted to resume negotiations before the arbitration board of the canton of Vaud. A delegation consisting of members of the personnel commission and union representatives has been assigned to conduct the negotiations on Thursday. Subsequently, a general meeting will again decide on the further course of action.
Tamedia employees had walked off the job on Tuesday to protest the discontinuation of the printed edition of the newspaper Le Matin to protest. A week ago, Switzerland's largest media group had rejected three alternative editorial proposals to save the most widely read newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland. The editors and unions are calling on Tamedia to look for solutions that will safeguard press diversity in French-speaking Switzerland, even by selling a title if necessary. Tamedia should also offer to withdraw the layoffs.
Protest march in Lausanne
The displeasure of journalists in French-speaking Switzerland over the decisions of the Zurich media company is great. Around 300 Tamedia employees, union representatives and sympathizers demonstrated in Lausanne on Wednesday. The main demand: a genuine dialog about the future of Le Matin. But there is more at stake: secure jobs, the appreciation of journalistic work and media diversity in French-speaking Switzerland. It is important to send a signal against further cutbacks, said one rally participant.
The journalists vented their anger with whistles. With chants such as "Tamedia tue vos medias" (Tamedia is killing your media) or "Sauvez la presse!" (Save the press!) and whistles, the demonstrators marched from the train station to the Edipresse tower.
Tamedia had the Edipresse titles 24 heures, Tribune de Genève, Le Matin and Le Matin Dimanche purchased eight years ago.
"Press diversity on the conscience"
Several speakers accused the Zurich media group of being responsible for the decline of media diversity in French-speaking Switzerland. French-speaking Switzerland also had a right to a diverse press. There were other solutions than shutting down newspapers, was the tenor. "If there is one publisher who can afford to test alternatives, it is Tamedia, which writes annual profits of several million francs," said journalist Flavienne Wahli Di Matteo.
Patricia Alcaraz of the Syndicom union praised the courage of the strikers and called for a stand against the pure logic of numbers and the disrespect and destruction of jobs. "Tamedia's decisions are outrageous," she said.
Among the few politicians present, SP member of the Council of States Géraldine Savary spoke out in favor of the dialog. "Breaking off the dialog, as Tamedia has done, is unacceptable," she said.
Solidarity from German-speaking Switzerland
In a letter, the editors of German-speaking Switzerland declared their solidarity with their striking colleagues in French-speaking Switzerland. They, too, were highly concerned about the dramatically eroding media diversity in Switzerland. Tamedia wants to close the print edition of Le Matin "due to continuing losses" at the end of July. 41 employees are at risk of losing their jobs. (SDA)
