France, Alternative Libertaire AL #250 - Strike at Radio
France: Good strike wave (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Christiane Passevant is responsible for carrying TV and militant union CGT Radio France.
After his retirement in late February 2015, she continued her union work by supporting
their striking colleagues. It is also a libertarian activist known for its broadcasts on
Radio Libertaire and several works[1]. She returns to Alternative Libertaire on the strike
at Radio France, the longest in its history. ---- Alternative Libertaire: The strike at
Radio France is the longest in its history. Yet the comparison with other conflicts does
not stop there and the knowledge of the history of this public service is needed to
understand the conflict that comes from the flare. ---- Christiane Passevant: We must
return to the situation before Radio France, that is to say at the time of the ORTF. You
should know that in 1968, the wage earners of the ORTF were the last-es back to work. In
1974, the state decided the dissolution of the ORTF into several entities (Radio France,
TF1, Antenne 2, France 3, SFP, TDF, INA). In fact, there is a link, a continuity between
the current situation and what happened in 1974. The purpose was to rein in the media of
public broadcasting after the great strikes of May-June 1968 . And for that, he must first
tackle the television channels.
In 1986, the first channel, TF1, is privatized. Then, power attacks the production of
programs Channels Antenna 2 and 3. En Increasingly, production carried out internally is
scarce. It sold off especially with the case of the French Company Production (SFP). Today
France 2 produces only 12% of its programs or newscasts essentially. This figure is 23%
for France 3 because of local offices.
Production is now privatized, recovered by the major studios and production houses founded
by headings Facilitators Facilitators are paid-for gold. There is no longer a collective
agreement is therefore arbitrary and race fees for professional-le-s.
Radio France still produces 100% of its domestic production. Our leaders will then say:
"We destroyed the SFP and privatize production chains TV. Will now be able to destroy
Radio France " . Which consists of 7 national and 44 local radio antennas.
In 1976, I worked at TF1 and Radio France. In Cognac Jay (studios, the control room and
even a film laboratory) were used by TF1 and Antenne 2. Until 1986, the walls were covered
with leaflets. The CGT was there majority. After the privatization of TF1, we could see a
union leaflet on the walls, they were replaced by the daily results of the ratings, even
in elevators. A totally crazy stuff.
In April 1990 there was a major strike 13 days. Known as the "strike of small salaries,"
it especially involved the cleaning service, reception and safety, mail, reprographics,
some personnel were receiving wages below the minimum wage (SMIC). The strike allowed them
requalification, increases wearing these wages above the minimum wage and the payment of
strike days.
In 2003, when Jean-Marie Cavada headed Radio France, management has issued an alert on the
pretext of obligation to bring the building up to standard. Beginning in 2005, management
has undertaken work in the studios as in offices in defiance of common sense in an
accounting and bureaucratic logic, but work management resulted almost triple the expected
cost. Every CEO wants to leave its mark and print the mark of its power and this is partly
what drives each phase of construction. The only beneficiaries of this case are
architectural firms, but its never-workers.
The work done since 2005 combine all the flaws (defects, inappropriate architecture, use
of carcinogenic materials) with occupational health outcomes (discomfort, migraines).
Thus, October 31, 2014, there was a fire in the part of the building that overlooks the
RER station. An asbestos removal work was underway and an overheated device was the cause
of this incident. Management had decided to disable the fire alarm in the party work
without warning firefighters and even less still the wage earners working in the
construction zone of the 6th, 7th, 8th floors and studios. Not to mention the parking lot
redone three times in recent years, the last level in water, non-secure area and the
esplanade redone too, but still flooded. All at the expense of the budgets of emissions
and drama whose budgets are frozen until 2020.
The last "fantasy" was the idea of a door "monumental" on the esplanade of parking spaces
history delete, prevent wage earners to work in decent conditions of production and
burdening the budget site.
AL: Work resumed Thursday, April 16 following a decision taken at the last general meeting
of strikers Yet despite ongoing mediation, nothing is settled. Can you remember the
reasons that triggered then hardened strike?
CP: There has been in recent years a budget restriction policy by the state. At the heart
of the proposed restructuring, management has hired incompetent as leaders from the
private sector as overpaid (contracts outside the collective agreement) and abusive
towards staff. This is what motivated a statement by the CGT union, particularly in July
2013, because we were afraid of staff suicides, as the Post Office or by other companies
subjected to violence similar restructuring. While management reduced production budgets,
it multiplied the festivals funded at great expense. She also placed knowledge from the
private whose purpose was outsourcing. Cleaning Service staff, the majority of which has
been outsourced, would now be relegated to the basement.
With the new organization of the means of production - "verticalization" - management
wants to break gateways allowing wage earners in production, technician ne s,
hourly-realization, tied-es of production, etc. working for several chains of Radio
France, in order to better control and submit them further to general management. It is
also about reducing orchestras - now the National Orchestra of Radio France, the
Philharmonic Choir and Master (for children) - and return musician ne s. The strategy of
sacrificing the public service is clear despite the big words in the media and deal with
instances. The orchestras are participating in educational programs in all musical fields.
And last important point, stations in the France Bleu network, created on the principle of
proximity, would suffer syndication project, so close, you sit on it.
There is also for years the proliferation of audits requested the same firms and that cost
a fortune. The bodies and the unions have called for transparency on costs and consulting
... Management and HRD refuse. Only freshly presented frameworks rantings come-es from
these audits, as graphs, sometimes projected CE, CEC and CHSCT, the Newspeak of services
reflect the disregard of Radio France, ignorance of production, the incompetence of those
who boast of implementing restructuring professional to teach it-s of the house how to do
radio. Among the executives in question, and even the direction, do not know the studios
and go there only to receive political or media personalities. Rare are those who go there
now to see what cooks it.
Moreover, management does more elaborate program, produced with a full team, or 5 to 6
people. Quality, not is exceeded. The enthusiast-es-es are deemed "perfectionists" and
"backward-looking". Their model is the BBC or Radio Canada who have suffered the same
steamroller.
At Radio France, we have 250 different trades. Management wants to transform unskilled and
skilled trades versatile precarious jobs. So the technician can also achieve. This is what
is already happening in France Inter (information) and RFI. Certain es technician ne s are
attracted by what they see as they and promotion. It is a trap and the strikers themselves
opposite-es to this, saying it is a team work, able to provide quality work.
In November 2014, the "opening" of the House of radio for 50 years neglected the security
and the means for the reception. To make profitable the major studios, she sacrificed
work, rehearsing orchestras, and leased to Pernod Ricard and other private boxes, ditto
for local fashion shows. Everything is to match and every day is an opportunity for a new
surprise. It is also this that participated in the strike. Austerity for wage earners,
mismanagement of Officers, it is this policy that allows the CEO to invest 110,000 euros
for the reconstruction of his office renovated a year earlier (30 000 lamp). When The
Chained Duck has released the matter of the cost of Gallet office, the reasons for it and
the internal communication were much contempt brands felt by wage earners. Has added the
change of the car and private driver from the INA.
AL: We heard a lot interposed media by unions during the strike. However what was the
reality of self-organization?
CP: The first strike took place on March 12, at the initiative of the UNSA and the
National Union of Journalists (SNJ). This was mainly on wages. The CGT has not sustained
because one-day strike on that sole claim seemed shy while projects of management put at
risk not only the wage earners, their working conditions, but also any organization Work
with Radio France and the public service. The indefinite strike began March 19 and lasted
28 days. The Inter was composed of unions CGT, FO, SUD, UNSA and CFDT, SNJ-CGT-FO and SNJ.
The CFTC and the SNJ have not called a strike. May, if the Union of Journalists (SNJ) has
not called a strike, many journalists were on strike, supported her and spoke in AG. The
CFDT and UNSA showed reluctance during the strike, but the general assemblies were
massive. The auditorium and studio 104 were packed. The speeches were soon policies. The
discussions focused on what the public service, the lack of social dialogue and the fact
that the state does not want a public service. Gallet was forced to come and explain to
the strikers in the auditorium. His attitude, face the issues of the strikers was imprints
of contempt and a certain condescension and he even turned his back on sure-es.
Demonstration of the class struggle, the hierarchy is not in the same rank as the person
who cleans the office! He was booed and strikers gathered outside his office-es where he
was locked up. How social dialogue "management".
In the AG, the continuation of the strike we voted, we decided to events outside of
apostrophize management. The strikers tried to get out the outward movement: concerts were
organized by musician-do-s strikers every day in the home of the radio, but also outside,
several festivals, meetings with auditors and forums were organized in Paris and its
suburbs. Demonstrations were also held, including one with spontaneous discussions and
distribution of leaflets at the Salon du Livre in Paris. Blog the Best Wave
http://lemeilleurdesondes.blogspot.fr/ has all online AG. It also created a face book,
tweeter, caricatures, cartoons, posters ... it was impressive, especially the strikers
have not played at the forefront, it was collective. This strike was an opportunity for
awareness and politicization of a wide speaking for the public service, solidarity,
against the so-called "management" current.
AL: Why Most Unions (UNSA, SUD, FO, CFDT) with the exception of the CGT have they called
back to work, even though the management of Radio France would concede nothing?
CP: These unions justified their withdrawal from the Inter by the appointment of a
mediator by the government. And Monday, April 13, three Trade Unions (UNSA, CFDT and SUD)
called for the resumption of work, despite a mostly favorable AG in the strike agreement.
It was the end of the Inter.
Why is he has been creating coordination during the strike? Certain es and they thought
they did not have the right! It was necessary for me of coordination AG and a delegation
of non union members in negotiations. This was one of the limits of self-organization.
AL: How the strikers they perceived the government's attitude has always supported the
management of Radio-France from the beginning?
CP: Those who voted PS have the balls. But many strikers have become aware of their
strength and have been creative that reminded 68 and drive-fliers, or those of the
Industrial workers of the world to the United States.
AL: How do you see the result of this conflict? Do you think that a resumption of a strike
is possible?
CP: Negotiations are in progress with the mediator. For management, it takes more jobs,
but jobs. Journalists are increasingly precarious, and it is mostly young people who will
pay the high price of this policy.
In this strike, the important thing is the awareness and the creation of links between
wage earners who understand that the most vulnerable are initially referred es - the
home-security services, cleaning and workshops - but the others will follow.
The lack of real "social dialogue" is perceived as contempt and, at the attitude of
management, discontent and anger continue to speak: "This is the beginning," "We'll have
to fight again. ". There are also a lot of fighting spirit in the local radio and this is new.
It is understood that the direction, supervision and the government want to attack the
public service, working conditions, establishment, expertise being completely secondary in
a capitalist logic of technocrats.
Interviewed April 20, 2015 by Laurent Esquerre (AL Paris North East)
[1] see bibliography in http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiane_Passevant
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Greve-a-Radio-France-Les-bonnes
