In game information as a commodity or a public good strike "courage" of journalists from the Swiss News Agency (ATS)

02/01/2018  Sergio Ferrari Rebellion I

n a country where social peace seems to have biblical commandment force and where strikes can be counted on the fingers of one hand, journalists from the national news agency (Swiss Telegraphic Agency, ATS) they began the last week of January a strike indefinitely. The strike that began on Tuesday , 30 - and lives his second day at the time this article- is written not only pulled from obscurity to the historical "agencieros" - ie journalists nameless firm that produced the most rich background information anywhere in the world, but put at the center of public debate helvético the concept of information.

Strike the end of January, gave continuity to a previous 3 hours on Tuesday, January 23, through which the drafting of the national agency warned the Board of Directors the road that would follow if no progress negotiations serious between the parties, essential in any social partnership that is claimed as such. Days earlier, the direction of the ATS had communicated from one moment to another, a package of savings that involves reduction of 25% of its workforce. And that means direct licensing or forced reduction in working time of 40 positions which will hit about 60 journalists with partial dedication, a total of 150 positions with the agency counts.

Affected major: the young people who performed his first professional experience as well as the journalists of more than 60 years, many of the carriers which three or four decades of experience in the ATS itself and constitute a professional-human capital irreplaceable.Following the decision of the Board, a change abrupt and inconsulto SoBe defining the very essence of the ATS. While since its founding in 1895, it has a legal structure of private enterprise, has since its inception with a Charter of Principles define "the basic product" (information flow daily) as "public service", non-profit or profit.

Giving samples enormous opportunism, in the last hours, the current direction of the ATS, erased from your website this Charter of Principles. In parallel, the CEO (CEO) thereof, Markus Schwab, said in an interview Sunday "does not owe anyone anything" - neither the public nor staff, nor the society but only "to its shareholders "and completely ignoring the civic responsibility of the national news agency. The main "customers" of it are the Radio and Public Television (SSR); the Swiss Government; and a group of private press editors who are behind these measures and restructuring economy sacrificing staff.


The strike of journalists, led by a youthful and collective Editorial Committee (CORE) and supported in front by the union of communication Syndicom, as well as the imprint association, has won the majority sympathy of all media without except, of civil society in general trade unions, associations, NGOs etc- and much of the political class and important personalities of cantonal and national governments. Doris Leuthard, head of a mega ministry that includes the Federal Office of Communication, expressed understanding for the extent of fighting men and women of the press and proposed the reasonable dialogue between social partners.

Dialogue of the deaf that management refuses to give the ATS. Unable to overtake his staff a clear strategy for the future where the quality and quantity of news production can be ensured. Where the role of the ATS contribution to national integration can continue to exist as a premise (the only agency that insures their service in the three official languages, namely German, French and Italian). And in which civic responsibility that has played the national agency - producing a type of high-quality information recognized by the entire media spectrum national-can continue to operate for a real reinforcement of democracy in diversity in a Confederation gathers four linguistic regions and 26 cantons (provinces decentralized, with great decision and autonomy).

Corajuda and as "historic" strike. It is the first time that the ATS is a strike in its 123 years of existence and is one of the first times that the journalists ' union calls for a measure of this kind for an indefinite time. Citizen mobilization that reinforces the debate already present in Swiss society about the very meaning of the information. For some almost monopolistic companies like Tamedia and Ringier, owners of a large part of everyday, magazines, advertising groups etc, information is nothing more than a commodity product and its sale must feed business gain dividends from its shareholders.

For part of the political class and a significant part of civil society - including trade unions and associations, NGOs, voluntary sector in general and various alternative-cantonal and regional information-, media information is a "public good", essential for the strengthening of democracy. And therefore a beautiful public building to which you can not put a price but the market itself added value of a fourth pillar / power of Swiss democracy.

Debate rages hot and passionate not only in the light of the strike drafting the ATS, but the next vote on March 4. The Swiss people will decide at the polls whether to accept a reactionary initiative that proposes to liquidate the public subsidy to the National Radio and Television, ie, it would lead to the dismantling of public radio and television.

Strike News Agency also constitutes the best contribution to the debate about what can happen in Switzerland if adopted on March 4 this reactionary initiative. The dismantling of the ATS address is advocated example, Chiquito, of what could happen on a large scale in Switzerland if approved on March 4 Initiative No-called Billag. The destruction of the media that are considered "public services" and opening wide, total privatization of information. 

 Sergio Ferrari, journalist and co-chairman of the Press Branch Syndicom, Swiss union of communication. Rebellion has posted this article with the author 's permission through a Creative Commons license, respecting their freedom to publish it elsewhere.