IFJ Supports French Media Unions in Battle Over Threat to Jobs

The International Federation of Journalists is calling on national journalists’ unions across Europe and around the world to give their full support to French journalists’ unions who are vigorously campaigning against a new law in France that will make it easier for employers to sack workers.

The IFJ’s regional group, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), which is to hold its annual meeting in Slovenia later this week, says that claims by the government that the new law will help reduce France’s high levels of unemployment are unconvincing.

“The idea that by allowing employers to dismiss anyone without any reason at all is going to bring down currently high levels of unemployment is just absurd,” said Arne König, the Chairman of the EFJ. “French trade unionists who are fighting for more not less employment protection deserve our full support.”

The controversy over the proposed new law, which has divided French politics and brought thousands of trades unionists and students on to the street in mass protests Paris has not seen for many years, is causing concern to many in media who see it as a move to further weaken rights at work.

“This law will be another step towards dismantling the model of social and employment rights which has served France well for decades,” said König. “It is inevitable that if the government succeeds in forcing through changes, new pressure will come to weaken the fabric of social protection across the continent.”

New demonstrations by trade unionists and students are expected across the country tomorrow and the EFJ is calling on its European affiliates to send messages of support and solidarity to its French unions who are engaged in the actions. Among them is SNJ-CGT, the journalists section of CGT, one of the major industrial unions and the SNJ, the autonomous journalists group, which is also campaigning against the new law.

For further information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2202
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries