Journalists' associations insist on CLA

Around 20 representatives of journalists' associations and trade unions from Switzerland, Germany and Austria launched the "Bern Appeal" in Bern for good working conditions and a strengthening of public service in the media. This was announced by the Syndicom and Impressum unions on Friday.

The media must be strengthened in their role as "watchdogs" of democracy. Secure employment conditions, anchored in collective bargaining agreements, would allow media professionals to concentrate on their work and fulfill their role in democratic society.

CLA issue not off the table

The association representatives exchanged views on work situations and contractual conditions. There has been no CLA in Swiss German publishing houses for more than ten years. But the issue is not off the table: In September, the Swiss Media Association commissioned a working group to submit a contractual framework to the Executive Board.

Stephanie Vonarburg of Syndicom told SDA on Friday that there was no date yet for talks with the publishers. She added that the associations were in the process of preparing themselves and formulating their expectations and needs.

Andreas Häuptli, managing director ad interim at the Swiss Media Association, said it was still open whether negotiations would take place this year. The members would decide whether to enter into negotiations.

While Western Switzerland has a CLA for media workers, Vonarburg says Ticino is also without one. There are also collective labor agreements in Germany and Austria.

DSI is a de facto disenfranchisement initiative

Another topic at the meeting was the SVP's enforcement initiative, which will be voted on February 28. The association's representatives fear that journalists without Swiss citizenship would risk deportation with this "de facto disenfranchisement initiative" by conscientiously exercising their profession. (SDA)