The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today pledged the support of journalists' unions across the continent in the battle being waged by unions representing newsroom staff in the daily newspapers of Germany.

German unions are challenging the refusal of German publishers to move forward on negotiations for a new collective treaty for journalists pointing out that in recent years the real value of wages in editorial departments has fallen.

"Journalists all over Europe stand shoulder to shoulder with our German colleagues," said Arne König, President of the EFJ. "We share their anger at how their salaries have fallen in value. It is a scandal that German journalists are being expected to pay the heaviest price for difficulties within the industry."

König says that journalists provide the talent and resources that are essential for the industry to prosper. "Journalists must get a fair deal for their work and they must have decent working conditions," he said. "If the newspaper industry is to meet the challenges of change within the industry it must invest in the talent and professionalism of its staff."

The EFJ, which is the European group of the International Federation of Journalists, says that its affiliates the Deutscher Journalisten Verband and the journalists' union Ver.di are ready to negotiate and to put on the table solutions that can reinvigorate the daily newspaper industry. "The answer is not to look for cost reductions at the expense of the industry's most treasured asset -- the professionalism and commitment of the people who work to make journalism the best it can be. That will only lead to decline and ruin. Journalists' unions across Europe will give our German colleagues their full support."

For more information contact the EFJ at +32 2 235 2200
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in over 30 European countries