SRG stands by its decision to cut 250 jobs
SRG is proceeding with the previously announced reduction of approximately 250 positions. It sees no other way to achieve part of the annual savings of 40 million Swiss francs. The number of layoffs has not yet been announced.
Of the 250 positions, 190 are to be achieved by means of retirements, layoffs and staff reductions, SRG announced on Tuesday. In addition, 60 vacant positions will not be filled. In order to limit the reduction to a maximum of 250 jobs, SRG and the SSM union have agreed on a zero wage increase for 2016 and a social plan.
SRG's management has been intensively looking at alternative cost-cutting proposals to minimize the job cuts. These included, for example, cuts in programming, lower expenses or a solidarity-based reduction in the number of employees, as spokesman Daniel Steiner explained in response to a question.
However, individual proposals would entail a high implementation effort or even additional costs, SRG writes further. It is also bound by current contracts and has to fulfill obligations under labor law.
Nevertheless, the SRG emphasizes that the cost-cutting program will also have an impact on programming. The individual language regions will provide information on the specific implementation in the next few days. The cost-cutting measures will be implemented starting this month.
SSM considers consultation procedure an elaborate token exercise
According to a statement on Tuesday, the SSM is disappointed that the SRG does not completely renounce layoffs until the introduction of the new fee system. The fact that 400 proposals submitted by employees in the consultation process have not led to a reduction in the announced job cuts is incomprehensible, it said.
In particular, the union finds it incomprehensible that the SRG did not agree to temporarily consider a reduction in equity or an increase in external debt to cover any losses.The SSM describes the elaborate consultation process as an alibi exercise. (SDA/sis)
