Monaco-Matin, Nice-Matin and Var-Matin newspapers did not appear on newsstands or online on Friday 21st March, as editorial staff launched a strike to protest what they call deteriorating working conditions. It marks the second stoppage for the media this month.
After their initial strike on 13th March, and a general assembly vote on 18th March, journalists at the region’s largest media company near-unanimously approved strike action after unsuccessful negotiations with management. Approximately 50 staff members gathered at midday outside the company’s headquarters in Nice, with demonstrators displaying banners denouncing more than 80 departures since Xavier Niel’s acquisition of the newspaper group in 2019.
According to Strategies, several employees entered management offices in an attempt to voice their concerns. Meanwhile, Rodolphe Peté, SNJ union delegate, said there were ‘’quite strong testimonies about working conditions and the level of exhaustion’’. A parallel demonstration was organised at the group’s Toulon office.
The editorial staff’s central demands, as revealed by Rodolphe Peté in a social media post, include immediate reinforcements, permanent contracts for precarious workers, and the establishment of minimum staffing levels to enable future growth.
Management acknowledges challenges
In response to the demonstrations, Simon Perrot, CEO of Nice-Matin Group, acknowledged the company’s financial difficulties, telling AFP that the newspapers are ‘’losing money’’. He confirmed that 30 editorial department staff departed last year, but emphasized all were voluntary separations.
He indicated the company is seeking a balance between necessary cost-cutting measures and maintaining journalistic quality. Management has proposed a two-month consultation period to establish a new organisational structure and has pledged to announce immediate reinforcements for the most severely affected departments, France bleu reports.
The editorial representatives have called on management “to finally become aware of the unease among journalists of our three newspapers,” according to RCF Radio, stating that leadership has failed to recognise “the extent or urgency” of the situation.
As of publication of this article, no agreement has been reached between management and journalists.
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