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Deutschlandradio draws conclusions from the failed increase in the broadcasting fee
Photo: Oliver Berg / picture alliance / dpa
Deutschlandradio has made use of a special right to terminate the current collective bargaining agreements.
According to those responsible, the reason is the 86 cents increase in the broadcasting fee blocked by Saxony-Anhalt to 18.36 euros.
Director Stefan Raue said: "The termination of the current collective bargaining agreement is unfortunately a necessary measure for Deutschlandradio that demands a lot from the employees."
The German Association of Journalists (DJV) criticized the move.
Federal chairman Frank Überall said: "That could lead to a pioneering role that could lead to a conflagration."
In December, the government of Saxony-Anhalt, contrary to the wishes of all other countries, blocked the increase in the radio license fee in Germany from EUR 17.50 per month to EUR 18.36 on January 1, 2021.
ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio immediately sued the Federal Constitutional Court.
Urgent applications were rejected by the court before the end of the year; there is still no decision on the main issue.
The expansion of the DAB + broadcasting network will also be interrupted
According to Deutschlandradio, the termination of the current collective bargaining agreements will initially not lead to an increase in pay by 2.25 percent in April.
The collective agreements actually run until the end of March 2022.
725 full-time and part-time employees are currently working at Deutschlandradio - this corresponds to 640 full-time positions.
There are also 685 employee-like employment relationships and between 5000 and 6000 freelance workers on a fee basis.
The main locations are Berlin and Cologne.
Deutschlandradio has decided on further episodes.
For example, the expansion of the DAB + broadcasting network is to be interrupted or postponed.
According to its own statements, the broadcaster decided to use such adjustment screws in order to avoid possible cuts in the program and to secure the operational process.
The focus was on measures that could be implemented in the short term.
Raue emphasized that the priority for the decision-making was that, until a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in the main proceedings, no steps were to be taken "that would have significantly impaired the program mandate."
The DJV federal chairman Überall emphasized: "The decision of the Federal Constitutional Court creates great uncertainty, both among permanent freelancers and permanent employees." have a negative impact on the program and the employees «.
According to its own information, the DJV does not currently have any concrete signs of possible job cuts.
Everywhere pleaded for the broadcasters to continue fulfilling their mandate as public broadcasters and, if necessary, to close with a minus this year.
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