FRANCE RFI strike
There was no English-language RFI broadcast at 1400 today and a check of the French service found no newscast at 1400. Both were replaced by the same fill music. Agence France Presse reported that RFI programming was being interrupted by a strike by foreign correspondents and freelancers who want better benefits. RFI officials told AFP midday Monday almost half of its programs had been interrupted.
A collective of more than 800 correspondents on five continents, calling itself "Radio Spartacus," claims RFI stopped contributing to their benefits at the beginning of August. They also say RFI hasn't paid into the social-security system for new correspondents for the past two years. There's additional uncertainty because of a new program to consolidate Radio France that was announced last week.
"What concrete guarantees will there be for correspondents' social security and the retirement?" the striking freelancers and correspondents asked. "Must we cover events in conflict zones without being able to take care of our health?"
The collective asked for RFI and other public officials to meet with them. RFI officials said they planned to do so this week, according to the AFP report, found here:
https://www.afp.com/fr/infos/2260/lantenne-de-rfi-perturbee-par-une-greve-des-correspondants-doc-1958dc3
(Mike Cooper, GA, Sep 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
