Schlieren printing plant to close permanently

The company already communicated a corresponding declaration of intent last November (Werbewoche.ch reported).

The NZZ media group will close its printing center in Schlieren. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung and NZZ am Sonntag will be printed at Tamedia's Zurich printing center from the middle of the year. The final decision was preceded by a consultation process. An intensive, transparent exchange took place between employer and employee representatives, according to a statement from the NZZ Media Group. The Board of Directors and company management of the NZZ Media Group carefully examined the proposals of the employee representatives. They have come to the conclusion that, from a business and strategic point of view, no other scenario would be nearly as expedient as the closure of the printing center. Veit Dengler, CEO of the NZZ Media Group: "The closure of the printing center is a painful decision, but one that is right and important for the future of the media group."

The company management will now do everything in its power to mitigate the consequences for the affected employees as far as possible, the press release concludes.

Syndicom: strategically wrong, economically unnecessary and socially irresponsible

According to the Syndicom trade union, the decision lacks economic and journalistic necessity. It only serves to keep profits high for NZZ shareholders. "125 employees are losing their jobs at one of the most profitable printing plants in Switzerland," the union wrote in a statement on Tuesday. The closure is economically unnecessary, strategically wrong and socially irresponsible.

Contrary to the assurances of the NZZ management, the arguments of the staff and works committees, the employees and their union Syndicom were not taken seriously: It would be possible to continue newspaper printing in Schlieren without the NZZ getting into difficulties and having to change its digital publishing plans.