19 redundancies at RTS
RTS, the radio and television broadcaster for French-speaking Switzerland, has finalized its 2025 cost-cutting plan. It has announced 19 layoffs. The SRG company originally planned to cut 55 full-time positions. That number has now been reduced to 46.
"The remaining savings will be achieved through early retirements, natural fluctuation and vacancies that are not refilled, as well as through measures with no impact on staff," RTS announced on Thursday. RTS had announced in mid-September that the company would have to save CHF 10 million due to price increases and a further decline in advertising revenue.
According to RTS, staff account for more than half of the budget. Job cuts are therefore unavoidable. However, according to the Directorate Council, several suggestions from the staff consultation were taken on board. As a result, the reduction will be somewhat smaller than originally planned.
Employees protest
The media union SSM does not share this view. "Some marginal proposals were accepted, but the essentials were rejected," said union secretary Jean Burgenmeister to the more than 100 employees who had gathered at the RTS tower in Geneva on Thursday lunchtime. They were demonstrating against the redundancies and the "forced retirements".
"RTS must find other solutions for these savings," explained the union secretary. He also denounced the fact that the cuts were always made on the backs of the employees without affecting the managers.
Incidentally, a call for solidarity from the managers was rejected by them, he added. The union is calling on RTS to tap into its own funds in order to leave the jobs untouched until a substantive reflection has taken place.
Shipments canceled
The savings plan will also have an impact on the program. The television programs "Helvetica", "Sport Dernière", "Vivants", "Nouvo" and "Journal Radio" at 22:30 will be discontinued.
The summer program on television will be thinned out. Recordings of classical music, contributions to partners and the presence of RTS at cultural and sporting events will also be affected. (SDA/swi)
