Comedia and KVZ criticize Tamedia
Employee representatives have condemned the Zurich-based media company's handling of job cuts. The two sides are telling different stories.
The media trade union Comedia and the
Kaufmännische Verband Zürich are outraged by the actions of the
publishing house Tamedia to cut jobs in the advertising sector.
Tamedia had announced in August and September that it would
eight in telephone ad acceptance and nine in ad production.
jobs will be cut. A total of 23 employees will be made redundant.
Comedia and KVZ are defending themselves with those affected against the
downsizing measures and are demanding that Tamedia should once again
fundamentally reviewed. "It is particularly disturbing that Tamedia
unilaterally offers so-called supplementary services instead of jointly
to negotiate a social plan with those affected," said
Comedia Central Secretary Serge Gnos. The proposed benefits
are better than the last negotiated agreement in some respects.
social plan, which expired at the end of June 2005. Overall, the
proposal is more disadvantageous than the benefits catalog agreed in 2003.
"Tamedia has not shown any willingness to talk," explained Brigitte
Tamburini from the Zurich Commercial Association. "We have written to
asked for an appointment, which we did not receive." The
However, it was not only with the trade unions that the discussion did not
but also the people concerned would feel ignored
feel. "What particularly bothers me is the fact that the
The majority of those affected are women who have been loyal to Tamedia for years.
were. As many of them are now at an advanced age, they will now have a hard time
have to find a new job. It simply affects the weakest",
says Tamburini.
Tamedia does not want to accept the accusations: "It's simply true
not that we are not continuing the social plan," said Franziska
Hügli, Head of Corporate Communications at Tamedia. "As part of the
We have taken over all services that are included in the
were included in the expired social plan. With two exceptions; we have
the severance payment is replaced by a longer notice period,
which in our view is better for those affected, because then the
insurance benefits continue to run. In the second point, occupational
pension plan, we were no longer able to act immediately, as the pension fund
has changed its regulations in the meantime." They have a
equivalent alternative was sought and found. The dismissals
would be carried out for economic reasons, as the order volume in the
advertising sector is clearly in decline. It is also not true that
had not been discussed with those affected, emphasized Hügli. "We
are in constant contact with them. Our social counselors and the
Area HR managers coach the people and support the
affected employees in determining their current position and
job search." Tamedia's primary concern is the conversation with
the employees affected and the search for solutions.
Serge Gnos from Comedia believes that one-to-one meetings can
negotiating position of those affected is weakened: "As an individual
one naturally dares to defend oneself less than if one is a collective
can occur." The union and the KV demand that the
Those affected will be offered other jobs within Tamedia
or sought solutions in joint discussions with Comedia and KV
that, for example, by means of alternative working time models
as many of the jobs as possible could be retained. "That
Personnel management ensures that the employees of positions
at Tamedia that match the respective profile," said Franziska Hügli.
Carole Scheidegger
Kaufmännische Verband Zürich are outraged by the actions of the
publishing house Tamedia to cut jobs in the advertising sector.
Tamedia had announced in August and September that it would
eight in telephone ad acceptance and nine in ad production.
jobs will be cut. A total of 23 employees will be made redundant.
Comedia and KVZ are defending themselves with those affected against the
downsizing measures and are demanding that Tamedia should once again
fundamentally reviewed. "It is particularly disturbing that Tamedia
unilaterally offers so-called supplementary services instead of jointly
to negotiate a social plan with those affected," said
Comedia Central Secretary Serge Gnos. The proposed benefits
are better than the last negotiated agreement in some respects.
social plan, which expired at the end of June 2005. Overall, the
proposal is more disadvantageous than the benefits catalog agreed in 2003.
"Tamedia has not shown any willingness to talk," explained Brigitte
Tamburini from the Zurich Commercial Association. "We have written to
asked for an appointment, which we did not receive." The
However, it was not only with the trade unions that the discussion did not
but also the people concerned would feel ignored
feel. "What particularly bothers me is the fact that the
The majority of those affected are women who have been loyal to Tamedia for years.
were. As many of them are now at an advanced age, they will now have a hard time
have to find a new job. It simply affects the weakest",
says Tamburini.
Tamedia does not want to accept the accusations: "It's simply true
not that we are not continuing the social plan," said Franziska
Hügli, Head of Corporate Communications at Tamedia. "As part of the
We have taken over all services that are included in the
were included in the expired social plan. With two exceptions; we have
the severance payment is replaced by a longer notice period,
which in our view is better for those affected, because then the
insurance benefits continue to run. In the second point, occupational
pension plan, we were no longer able to act immediately, as the pension fund
has changed its regulations in the meantime." They have a
equivalent alternative was sought and found. The dismissals
would be carried out for economic reasons, as the order volume in the
advertising sector is clearly in decline. It is also not true that
had not been discussed with those affected, emphasized Hügli. "We
are in constant contact with them. Our social counselors and the
Area HR managers coach the people and support the
affected employees in determining their current position and
job search." Tamedia's primary concern is the conversation with
the employees affected and the search for solutions.
Serge Gnos from Comedia believes that one-to-one meetings can
negotiating position of those affected is weakened: "As an individual
one naturally dares to defend oneself less than if one is a collective
can occur." The union and the KV demand that the
Those affected will be offered other jobs within Tamedia
or sought solutions in joint discussions with Comedia and KV
that, for example, by means of alternative working time models
as many of the jobs as possible could be retained. "That
Personnel management ensures that the employees of positions
at Tamedia that match the respective profile," said Franziska Hügli.
Carole Scheidegger
