Media: BFM Côte d’Azur employees on strike following announcement of 70 job cuts

On Wednesday, September 30, BFM management presented what appears to be the final version of the local channels transformation project. The SNJ and CGT denounce a project providing 80 positions for 150 current employees and are calling for a strike on Thursday, October 1. A movement that was followed in Nice.

BFM’s local channels transformation project is taking a new turn. Management presented on Wednesday, September 30 what appears to be the final version of the project for the regions. According to the SNJ and the CGT, all takeover offers are ultimately being postponed. BFM DICI and BFM Normandy are also to close. The remaining channels are to be transformed into “business-themed channels” with commercial partnerships.

According to the project presented to employees, 80% of content would be journalistic. The remaining 20% would be devoted to commercial content. The SNJ and CGT contest this direction. The two union organizations believe that the project presented to the Works Council and employees “is not an editorial project but a commercial project.”

80 positions planned for 150 current employees

Management plans to operate the remaining channels with 80 people out of 150 currently. “Half of the workforce will be laid off,” denounce the SNJ and CGT in their announcement.

Union organizations are asking management to revise the 80 positions upward. The project also raises questions about the evolution of journalistic roles. According to the SNJ and CGT, journalists will have to transform into business/partnership specialists.

In a statement published last night, they mention “a blurring of lines that raises fears of collusion between journalism and commercial interests.”

The situation comes after several changes regarding the future of local channels. The SNJ and CGT indicate that employees were first informed of the existence of a “serious buyer” ready to purchase all local channels.

Management is now announcing the rejection of all takeover offers. BFM DICI and BFM Normandy are set to close as part of the presented project.

Faced with this situation, the SNJ and CGT are calling for a strike starting October 1 at 00:01 until 23:59. The two organizations are also inviting employees of the UES RMC BFM to show their support for their regional colleagues by mobilizing.