Some of the staff of Radio France Internationale (RFI) - management claims only 7% - went on strike yesterday as management announced its decision to suspend “temporarily” its social plan following a decision of the Court of Appeal of Paris.
Since 1030 UTC on Tuesday, the station is only broadcasting music. Four unions have called for an indefinite strike against the social plan, which envisages 206 job cuts.
In a ruling on Monday, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered the suspension of consultation procedure on the social plan (206 job losses including 106 journalists). Management announced yesterday its intention to comply with this decision, suspending “temporarily” the procedure, and will consult with elected union representatives on the establishment of the holding “Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF)” of which RFI is a subsidiary.
The striking unions reject the management’s claims of financial difficulties to justify the plan: according to the unions it is related mainly to the creation of the AEF - the new umbrella organisation of France 24, RFI and TV5Monde. They also believe that management has ”discriminated” against a group of journalists from the foreign-language departments. The plan proposes cutting transmissions in seven of the 19 languages in which the station broadcasts.
Management insists that the reform of RFI is essential for the survival and development of the company. The staff of the station were called on Tuesday to vote on two motions of no confidence, one against RFI management and the other against the State.
(Source: AFP)
Related story:
