Today the European
Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supported the national day of strike and the
demonstration of German journalists and print workers in Frankfurt on 9 June.
"This industrial action is key for the rights of journalists in Germany
and for their future," said EFJ
President Arne König. "The economic situation of the German media industry
cannot justify any of the requests made by employers' organisations, which are
a backlash on working conditions and which would damage journalism as a public
good".
The national day of action, organised by the EFJ affiliates DJV and DJU in
ver.di, takes places following weeks of actions and attempts to counter
unacceptable demands by employers and newspaper publishers. The latter ask for
drastic reduction of salary and of holiday and for increase of working time,
which would result in 30% loss of salary for newcomers to the sector and those
who change their job. In May already, thousands of employees were on strike to
fight against these demands concerning 14.000 newspaper journalists, 8.000
magazine journalists and 160.000 print workers.
"The plans of the publishers are a cost-cutting nonsense, but also a
disregard and an attack on values of journalism in Germany", say the German unions of journalists.
"Their economic pressure is unjustified as most workers of the media sector
already lost income over the past ten years because of the inflation and many
young journalists are living in precarious working conditions. This is why
unions ask for an increase of wages and a limitation of temporary work in the
sector."
The Association of German Newspaper Publishers (BDZV) proposed an appointment
to reopen the negotiations concerning the journalists and media workers covered
by the agreement. It will take place on 15 June in Düsseldorf.
The EFJ expresses its strong solidarity with German journalists and print workers
in their struggle.
More information in Germany and contacts for support:
DJV: http://www.djv.de/SingleNews.20+M5838095cf29.0.html // Hendrik Zörner: [email protected]
DJU in ver.di: http://tarifrunde-print.verdi.de/) //
Matthias von Fintel: [email protected]
For more information, please contact EFJ on + 32 2 235 22 00
The EFJ represents more than 250.000 members in over 30 countries
