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On the second day of national strike of broadcasting workers in Greece, UNI joins colleagues of POSPERT in Athens to fight off plans to downsize public service broadcaster ERT.

During meetings with the Ministry of Press and Mass Media, a joint delegation of POSPERT and UNI MEI conveyed the solidarity messages of broadcasting unions across unions to support Greek public service broadcasting workers and its union.

The Ministry of Press and Mass Media affirmed its aim to build a strong public service media for the digital age and its commitment to good quality jobs as essential base for state of the art broadcasting.

UNI MEI and POSPERT issued a joint statement after the meeting calling for strong Hellenic public service broadcasting.

The statement reiterates the unions opposition to the plans of the Greek government to close down the ET1 channel, several radio stations, 15 out of 20 transmission centres and the magazine “Radiorileorassi”, edited since 1938. These plans and cuts, neither save money, nor contribute to ERT’s modernisation. If these plans come into effect, they will downgrade the quality and diversity of public service broadcasting in Greece, deprive citizens of important programs bringing entertainment, culture and sports into the homes of so many people. They will punish a dedicated, passionate and skilled workforce that has made sacrifices over the past years to bring ERT out of the red figures. Note that in 2010 ERT had a surplus of 10% of its budget.

POSPERT and UNI MEI underline that ERT is fulfilling an important role in the Greek audiovisual and broadcasting area, by providing inclusive and diverse programming, promoting the cultural heritage and giving access to major events and non-mainstream programmes at the same time. It ensures local and regional cohesion, thanks to its important well run network of regional radio and TV stations, in a harsh landscape. Solutions to modernise public media in Greece need to start by addressing the question how to maintain, develop and these core public missions in the digital environment. The unions are a partner to bring about this change.

POSPERT President Panagiotis Kalfagiannis underlined that “modern public service broadcasting requires sound and stable funding mechanisms and a stable and qualified skillsbase that allow to maintain and develop public service missions including production and investment in the digital transformation. Slicing of the licence fees and job cuts are the wrong choices destroying sustainability and quality. What is need is change that addresses the specificities of the democratic, social and cultural role of public service broadcasting”.

POSPERT and UNI MEI look forward to continue a constructive dialogue with the Ministry and the recently created independent committee as well its international advisory committee.

“The commitment of the Ministry to stable employment and good jobs remains stated today, remains a promise for now and we will continue to support the actions of our Greek colleagues to safeguard a future for strong Hellenic public broadcasting” said William Maunier, President of the European region.

Download joint statement from the menu "related files" at top of page.