Le Monde journalists suspend strike
By Leah McBride Mensching, Wednesday 7 May 2008 at 23:32 :: Labor & Employment :: #1631 :: rss
Industrial action by journalists at French daily Le Monde has been suspended, after the newspaper's management announced job cuts could be fewer than previously suggested, the Guardian reported Wednesday.
The announcement by management was made Wednesday, following an editorial staff meeting at which employees were to vote on whether they would begin a longer strike next Tuesday.
The planned Wednesday vote was suspended, and staffers will instead meet with trade unions Friday, while the journalists' next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, according to the Guaridan. Previously, the staff held three 24-hour strikes that stopped the paper's production. The most recent was a strike Tuesday.
About a month ago, management at Le Monde announced they would cut 129 jobs, two-thirds of which would come from the newsroom, or about one in four journalists (87 staffers). The journalists are asking that the cuts will be voluntary, the Guardian reported. Eric Fottorino, managing editor at Le Monde, said Wednesday that redundancies could be 89 instead of 129, if cuts were made in other parts of the company.
Although the industrial action is suspended for the moment, staff is still on edge, because there has not been talk of making all job cuts voluntary, Christiane Chombeau, staff representative, told the Guardian.
“We were told today that if the company can save €9.4m in staff costs then there could be fewer redundancies,” said Chombeau, according to the Guardian. “Our experts are checking the numbers. We were also told that the redundancy package may be more generous than previously suggested.”
Fottorino told financial French daily Les Echos that it is not possible for all redundancies to be voluntary.
Comments
No comment.
Post comment