Bund, Berner Zeitung and Espace Media Verlag: agreement on a social plan
Following negotiations, the Federal Personnel Commission, the employee representative body of the Berner Zeitung, and Espace Media have agreed on a social plan. The social plan is intended to mitigate the economic impact on employees affected by the job cuts.
Following negotiations, the staff committee of the Swiss Confederation, the staff representatives of the Berner Zeitung and Espace Media have agreed on a social plan. The social plan is intended to mitigate the economic consequences for the employees affected by the job cuts. The social plan applies to all economically-related redundancies at Espace Media until the end of 2010 and goes far beyond previous social plans at Espace Media, as the Tamedia company writes in a press release.
The social plan includes, for example, the extension of the ordinary notice period by up to three months in the event of unemployment or, alternatively, an extension of the notice period by one month if desired, as well as compensation for a difference in income in the event of unemployment for a maximum of eight months. This protects employees against a loss of income for at least one year. Employees who do not opt for early retirement should also receive a severance payment depending on their length of service. In principle, permanent freelance employees will be treated in the same way as permanent employees. Employees who opt for early retirement are offered an early retirement program.
Espace Media announced on May 14, 2009 that the Bern newspaper model would be continued thanks to a collaboration between the Bund and Tages-Anzeiger. The close cooperation between the two daily newspapers will lead to a reduction of 14 full-time positions on the editorial staff of the Bund. Further cost-cutting measures will lead to the reduction of a further 2 full-time positions on the editorial staff of the Berner Zeitung and in the publishing organization of Espace Media.
The two journalists' organizations Comedia and Impressum have decided not to endorse the present social plan due to the in part offensive unequal treatment of those affected. It was negotiated over the past three weeks between Tamedia Verlag and the employee representatives of Bund and Berner Zeitung with their involvement. The present proposal was described by the employers' side as the last possible offer to be signed today. Comedia and Impressum wrote in a communiqué that they do not consider this proposal to be ready for signature.
The social plan includes, for example, the extension of the ordinary notice period by up to three months in the event of unemployment or, alternatively, an extension of the notice period by one month if desired, as well as compensation for a difference in income in the event of unemployment for a maximum of eight months. This protects employees against a loss of income for at least one year. Employees who do not opt for early retirement should also receive a severance payment depending on their length of service. In principle, permanent freelance employees will be treated in the same way as permanent employees. Employees who opt for early retirement are offered an early retirement program.
Espace Media announced on May 14, 2009 that the Bern newspaper model would be continued thanks to a collaboration between the Bund and Tages-Anzeiger. The close cooperation between the two daily newspapers will lead to a reduction of 14 full-time positions on the editorial staff of the Bund. Further cost-cutting measures will lead to the reduction of a further 2 full-time positions on the editorial staff of the Berner Zeitung and in the publishing organization of Espace Media.
The two journalists' organizations Comedia and Impressum have decided not to endorse the present social plan due to the in part offensive unequal treatment of those affected. It was negotiated over the past three weeks between Tamedia Verlag and the employee representatives of Bund and Berner Zeitung with their involvement. The present proposal was described by the employers' side as the last possible offer to be signed today. Comedia and Impressum wrote in a communiqué that they do not consider this proposal to be ready for signature.
