French Public Media Faces Labor Unrest adn Reform
French public radio and television are experiencing important upheaval, marked by labor disputes and a planned restructuring of the public broadcasting system.
Radio France Strike Threat
Unions representing employees at Radio France (CFDT, CGT, FO, SNJ, South and UNSA) issued a joint statement last Thursday warning that “for the first time in our recent history, the return to radio will not take place.” This threat stems from stalled negotiations with management.Discussions held on Friday failed to resolve the impasse.
Unions expressed frustration, stating, “For the time being, the management refuses the slightest concession or to return to the most harmful projects for teams and antennas.” Management responded on Saturday, claiming they had “Make proposals on the various subjects under discussion, with the aim of raising the notice.” A further meeting is scheduled for Monday in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
France Télévisions Faces Multiple Challenges
France Télévisions, another key component of French public media, is also grappling with unrest. Contributing factors include the proposed public audiovisual reform spearheaded by Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, the recent denunciation of the existing collective bargaining agreement, and new austerity measures due to reduced funding.
The reform project envisions the creation of a holding company,France Médias,to oversee France Télévisions,Radio France,and the INA (National Audiovisual Institute).The legislation faced challenges in the Senate in early July, requiring the Minister to invoke a procedural measure to advance it. The bill is expected to return to the National assembly in late September or October.
On July 9, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President of France Télévisions, announced the denunciation of the 2013 collective agreement, which governs working conditions and job classifications. This action, undertaken in accordance with commitments made to the Audiovisual and Digital Interaction Regulatory Authority (Arcom) in May, has drawn criticism from unions, some of whom predict a period of ”confrontation” during Ernotte Cunci’s potential third term.
Adding to the tension, France Télévisions is under pressure from the Bayrou government to implement further budget cuts. Ernotte Cunci announced in early July the cancellation of some programs and the suspension of ongoing projects as a result.
