"Salami tactics": Imprint sharply criticizes Tamedia
The journalists' association Impressum criticizes the fact that Tamedia is cutting about 20 full-time positions in its Editorial Services division, saying this is a prime example of how Tamedia is pushing ahead with job cuts using a "salami tactic.".
Both CEO Christoph Tonini and Arthur Rutishauser, editor-in-chief of Tamedia Deutschschweiz, had promised on August 23, 2017, when Tamedia announced the reorganization of the newspaper editorial offices and the creation of two supra-regional cover editorial offices, that this would not involve any layoffs, Impressum reminded in a statement on Thursday.
The 36 layoffs at Le Matin Semaine in June 2018 had already shown that Tamedia's "Project 2020" would not be implemented solely with natural fluctuation and "voluntary" departures under so-called termination agreements. Rather, the current reduction of around 20 full-time positions in Editorial Services makes it clear that Tamedia is using salami tactics to decimate the workforce in slices at various locations, criticizes Imprint. However, after Tamedia achieved a net profit of CHF 170.2 million in 2017, there is no economic necessity for the newly planned layoffs in the Editorial Services division.
Rather, the association suspects that Tamedia is now pushing ahead with its reorganization project by laying off staff in stages in order to be able to achieve higher profits again this year.
Demand for above-average social plan
Tamedia's profitability strategy must not be pursued unilaterally at the expense of employees, demands Imprint. For this reason, the company is showing solidarity with the employees of Tamedia's Editorial Services who are affected by a layoff and is demanding a social plan for them that corresponds to the exceptional circumstances and which must therefore also be exceptionally well funded.
On Wednesday, Tamedia announced that around 20 full-time positions will be cut in the German-speaking Switzerland Editorial Services division by February 2019 (Werbewoche.ch reported). The reasons for this are the organizational form introduced since the beginning of the year and new production systems, the company announced on Wednesday. According to the Syndicom trade union, 31 employees will lose their jobs. (hae)
