CLT-UFA reacts positively to union action against outsourcing

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Following solidarity action by the three representative trade unions, management at the CLT-UFA media group recently abandoned its plan for outsourcing, and is offering individual solutions to staff threatened with dismissal.

A merger in early 1997 has made CLT-UFA- whose head office is in Le Kirchberg, Luxembourg - Europe's leading media group with 21 television stations and 22 radio stations in 10 countries. After an upheaval of such proportions, the situation of employees working at Le Kirchberg is, to say the least, delicate; it cannot be long before the merger begins to have an effect on staffing levels. In particular, CLT-UFA could well become a holding company which continues to be based in Luxembourg, while its main activities are transferred out of the country.

This new situation put the three nationally representative trade unions on full alert, and prompted them to organise a solidarity demonstration with staff as soon management's intention to "outsource" cleaning and security services became known. At a meeting the same day with shopfloor representatives, CLT-UFA senior management announced that, in view of the opposition that had been voiced, they were dropping their plans to outsource although they would not be abandoning their earlier intention to cut jobs.

Management then agreed to call the 14 affected employees in and interview them individually with a view to finding solutions that would allow them to leave the company. Employees approaching retirement age will be encouraged to take early retirement through retirement incentives, while younger staff will be offered training opportunities enabling them to find other work.

The company has no plans for any further outsourcing, but reserves the right to set up subsidiaries.