VÖZ is likely to withdraw the termination of the journalists’ collective agreement

This still has to be decided in the committees. Negotiations should then begin quickly and should last until September 15, 2024 at the latest.

Until then, combat measures will be waived. Eike-Clemens Kullmann, chairman of the journalists’ union, stated in response to an APA request that the union is currently carrying out a circular resolution in the executive board of the journalists’ union. The result should be available at the end of this week. According to Kullmann, the union is only a “formal act”.

The VÖZ still has to approve the agreement in a board meeting. This will take place on November 22nd, as VÖZ managing director Gerald Grünberger told the APA. “From the beginning, the publishers’ association was interested in a constructive reform of the collective agreement; this objective remains a priority,” he said: “The signal sent by the VÖZ has been received.” Grünberger listed “the transformation of the collective agreement into the digital age and the sustainable securing of jobs, especially for younger employees” as the main objectives.

If both committees agree to the agreement, it will come into force with immediate effect. Negotiations to reform the collective agreement will then begin “swiftly,” with detailed position papers expected to be exchanged by December 18th.

• Read about it: Newspaper publishers’ association terminates journalists’ collective agreement – union criticized

Kullmann wants to conclude the negotiations in a “reasonable time with a reasonable result”. If no agreement is reached by the end of September 2024, the agreement stipulates that the KV, which applies to editors at daily and weekly newspapers as well as freelancers, can be terminated at the end of each month with three months’ notice.

The VÖZ cited the current economic and technological challenges in the industry as the reason for the KV termination last September. In order to ensure that media diversity is maintained, the collective agreement must be “adapted to the prevailing circumstances”, which referred to the price increases and declining overall sales of the publishers. In addition, work processes in the editorial offices would have to be redesigned from a focus on print products to all media channels, which is not reflected in the current KV.

The journalists’ union reacted angrily to the termination, which, according to Kullmann, represented a “serious foul” and was said to have taken place without prior discussions or exchange of demands. The union did not want to enter into negotiations without their withdrawal. The VÖZ again pushed for a “clear commitment to reform”. Works meetings and nationwide works council conferences then took place. Further, stricter measures have already been considered. A strike clearance was requested from the executive committee of the journalists’ union.

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