Ringier: Newsroom calls for 29 full-time positions

As Ringier media spokesman Stefan Hackh said in response to an inquiry from the news agency SDA, 28 percent of full-time positions are likely to be cut in production and eleven percent in editorial. In recent weeks, the editors-in-chief, department heads and project team have revised and adjusted the work processes and the interaction between the departments. In this way, the number of full-time staff positions (FTE) that will be needed in the newsroom from March 7, 2010 has been defined, the publishing house announced on Tuesday. As part of the job cuts, the management is inviting Ringier's personnel committee to consultative negotiations over the next four weeks. In the event of layoffs, a social plan negotiated with Ringier's staff commission will be applied, the statement added. How many employees will be affected by the layoffs and how many people will be employed in the newsroom will be determined in February, according to Hackh.

Imprint calls for moratorium
The association of media professionals Imprint assumes that around 40 to 50 people will lose their jobs with the reduction of 29 full-time positions. It supports the Ringier Personnel Commission's demand for a six-month moratorium on layoffs. This demand is realistic, especially since the largest department "News" is waiting with dismissals anyway, because a three-month trial run is planned, the association said on Tuesday. At the moment, the work processes have not even been defined, so the time for a decision on job cuts is premature.
Furthermore, Impressum demands that the job cuts, should they really be necessary, be realized via natural departures and other socially acceptable measures. This should be possible in a company of Ringier's size. Should layoffs occur, Impressum demands a substantial improvement of the already existing social plan. Ringier is showing through the cutbacks that the publisher is giving lower priority to the quality and individuality of its media, the statement continues. The reduction of "duplications", with which the reduction is justified, means nothing else than the reduction of media diversity.

Comedia: Social plan must be adjusted
The Comedia media union is also calling for an improvement in the social plan. The existing social plan, which was negotiated last May, must be adapted to the current, worse economic conditions and tailored to the particular profile of those affected, Comedia said in a statement. Ringier is challenged in its social responsibility. In addition to the social cushioning of the redundancies, Comedia demands that all employees receive the necessary support in the implementation of the newsroom. The newsroom can only be a success if it is supported and carried by the editorial staff.