Cost reduction and greater flexibility, keys in the review of the collective agreement at RTVE

The negotiation proposal for the II Collective Agreement of RTVE was presented to the unions. It is proposed to modify the professional classification system and streamline the job provision systems and internal mobility.

The Board of Directors of RTVE, in the meeting held today, has agreed to present to the unions the proposal for negotiation of the new collective agreement, whose priority objective is to maintain employment at RTVE in the current circumstances.

To achieve this, the Corporation must provide itself with a more flexible labor framework that allows for greater productivity, and address cost reduction. Personnel expenses represent 40% of RTVE's current budget. The proposal presented to the unions proposes a reduction of this item of around 35 million euros.

The aim is to achieve budget balance, in such a way that the Corporation does not lose audience, maintains its influence and continues to be a reference public media in Spain and the rest of the world.

The need for a new agreement is justified by the cuts of more than 20% in RTVE's budget due to the serious economic crisis, and the need to adapt the structures and operating models to the current competitive environment.

Likewise, it is necessary to adapt the labor regime applicable to RTVE to the new labor framework, favor internal production and make it more competitive, creating a more flexible, effective framework adapted to the circumstances. The economic situation and the evolution of the sector require optimization of resources and processes as a guarantee of survival.

Flexibility and cost reduction

The negotiation will be based on the search for greater flexibility. To this end, a modification of the professional classification system is proposed to achieve a less compartmentalized one, which guarantees greater functional mobility and greater versatility of workers. A system organized around professional groups and without job categories, as stated in current legislation.

In addition, the streamlining of the job provision system and internal mobility is proposed, for better use of human resources, as well as flexibility in terms of working hours and schedules, which will allow better adaptation to the services that RTVE needs.

Regarding cost reduction, RTVE plans to adjust personnel costs that do not directly impact salaries, affecting them to the least extent. A rationalization of the remuneration system is proposed, simplifying its structure and increasing the weight of variable remuneration compared to fixed remuneration, and a reduction in personnel expenses with a target figure of 35 million euros, including the reduction of salaries of the Corporation's Directors. It is worth remembering that the 5% salary cut in 2010 in the Administration and in a large part of the public sector was not applied to RTVE, it was only applied to senior management.

These measures would join those already adopted in 2012 and that have an impact in 2013, among which the reduction of the management structure and the reorganization of the Board of Directors or the freezing of hiring stands out.