Tamedia employees protest planned job cuts in Switzerland

Approximately 400 employees, journalists, and supporters gathered at the Tamedia headquarters in Zurich to protest planned layoffs within the media group. The protests follow the company's announcement that it intends to eliminate 41 full-time positions, including 28 in German-speaking Switzerland and 13 in French-speaking Switzerland.

Demonstrators, supported by Zurich Mayor Raphael Golta, are demanding an immediate halt to the layoffs. Key demands include prioritizing human journalism over artificial intelligence, implementing staff consultation processes in German-speaking regions similar to those already established in Romandie, and accounting for natural staff departures.

Union representatives from Syndicom noted that the mobilization reflects broad solidarity, as the company has not yet responded favorably to demands submitted by over 280 employees. Critics of the move have also pointed to recent editorial errors in Tamedia publications, such as a historical inaccuracy regarding the Hungarian Revolution, as evidence of the risks associated with reducing editorial and correction staff.