Letter from RTS Workers' Union to Management: Stop the Retaliatory Behavior
A portion of the employees of Radio Television of Serbia sent a letter today to the Board of Directors of RTS, the General Director of RTS, and the Programming Committee of RTS.
We are forwarding the letter in its entirety:
“Since the end of the student and civil blockade of RTS, the management of our organization has shown no desire to initiate a dialogue with employees who disagree with the editorial policy of the television's news program. You have not reacted in any way to the letter signed by nearly 400 employees and more than 50 retirees who spent their working lives at RTS. On the contrary, since the beginning of May, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against three colleagues from radio and television, and some colleagues who have been on freelance contracts for many years (which is illegal) have been informed that their contracts will not be renewed.”
“We appeal for you to cease this vindictive behavior and start acting in the interest of all who work at RTS, as well as in the interest of the citizens of Serbia who pay you. Stop hiding behind your positions and using your power to settle scores with employees who disagree with the way you manage our organization. This especially applies to the television's news program, which has long ceased to report in the public interest and in accordance with media laws and the RTS Statute, and openly sides with a regime that loses support from citizens day by day.”
“We demand that you suspend the disciplinary proceedings you have initiated and respect all our colleagues who work as freelancers by employing all those who have long met the requirements for permanent employment, and who are currently in a severely disadvantaged position, working for fees that are below the minimum wage in Serbia.”
“We request that you inform the public how many colleagues have been working as freelancers for ten years or more in violation of all legal regulations. How many young colleagues have you employed in permanent positions while you comfortably manage the Public Service from your retirement chairs? Do you have a plan on how you will compensate for the retirement of more than a hundred employees and ensure the uninterrupted operation of RTS in accordance with the laws and the Statute?”
Source: NUNS
