Swiss journalists campaign for collective agreements
Swiss Employment Law is designed liberally and the protection of employees is quite weak compared to other countries. In Switzerland, due to the different circumstances in each language area, the working conditions in the media industry vary from one area to another. While a Collective Agreement for journalists does exist in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, journalists in the German- and Italian-speaking parts have been working without one since 2004 and are therefore constantly facing the consequences of the lack of protection.
However, there is reason to hope that this long lasting state of affairs may come to an end in the foreseeable future.
Last September, after long discussions and thanks to supporters, the publishers’ organisation decided to include a dialogue about Collective Agreements in its annual objectives.
As a first response, the organisation for journalists impressum and the media union syndicom started the campaign “Medien-GAV jetzt!“ / “CCL-media subito!” and launched the website www.mediengav.ch / www.cclmedia.ch. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) supports the campaign launched by its affiliates.
The website provides all the information about the campaign, activities, events and will also show the progress of the negotiations in due time. All media professionals are invited to express their requests for a Collective Agreement in an online survey.
Based on the results, syndicom and impressum will represent the demands in the negotiations with the employers. Furthermore, numerous journalists, politicians and publishers speak out and explain through their testimonial why the media industry in the German- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland needs a Collective Agreement as well.
In addition to the website, the campaign runs on Facebook and Twitter. The campaign should raise awareness about the importance of a Collective Agreement in the media industry and get people mobilised. Every voice strengthens the negotiating position of all journalists.
Testimonials for a Collective Agreement for journalists are always welcome! Written or filmed testimonials can be sent to info@mediengav.ch.
