SSM, Unikom and Corall conclude new CLA for local radio stations
The media union SSM, Unikom, and Corall have concluded a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for licensed, nonprofit local radio stations. The so-called Industry Agreement 25 will take effect on March 1, 2025, and will provide for higher minimum wages, more vacation time, and stronger protection of personal rights in the workplace.
The new CLA was negotiated as part of the relicensing process for the period 2025-2034. Licensed radio stations had to commit to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) to industry-standard working conditions. The industry agreement 25 sets out the standards for this. The newly licensed radios Vostok (Unikom) and Gwendalyn (Corall) are now also covered by the CLA.
The minimum wage for employees in the sector will rise from CHF 4,700 to CHF 5,050 per month for 13 monthly salaries. Employees working a 42-hour week will now receive six weeks' vacation, compared to five weeks for those working 40 hours. In addition, binding measures have been introduced to protect personal privacy, which must be set out in personnel regulations. Interns will also be included in the CLA in future, although wages are still being negotiated between the social partners.
Not all local radio stations are part of the agreement. Radio Toxic.fm will no longer be represented in the industry agreement, and Radio X did not take part in the negotiations. They will continue to be subject to the working conditions for private radio stations, which include a 13th month's salary and pension fund contributions from the first franc earned.
The social partners see the new CLA as an important step towards fair working conditions in the media sector. It should contribute to quality assurance in the sector and create a sustainable basis for media professionals in the local radio stations concerned.
