Due to a technical breakdown, the 8 p.m. news of the RTS could not be held at the usual time. This snag comes at a time of tension between some of the staff and the new CEO who has decided to block the company agreement which allows for an improvement in the working conditions of public broadcasting agents.

The RTS 8 p.m. news was not held yesterday… at 8 p.m. The public channel furnished this moment with advertising broadcasts and the rebroadcast of magazines. For the General Management, these were technical problems which delayed the television news. This could be a sound console failure confirmed by the Rts. “Dear viewers, we offer you our most sincere apologies for not being able to broadcast the 8 p.m. television news as planned. A major technical problem affected our sound console and our server, making broadcast impossible at the scheduled time,” explained a press release from the company. Throughout the afternoon and evening, technicians were busy trying to get the console back up and running.

Is it a simple coincidence? In any case, this giant breakdown arrives in a context of standoff between the Director General and the Public Broadcasting Workers’ Union which called for a rally of workers in the Southern Triangle to denounce the suspension of the company agreement by the new Director General of the Rts, Pape Alé Niang.

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In a press release, the latter responded to explain the motivation for his decision: “Following the mood swings at the RTS, announced through the press and through social media, I would like to provide the following information to the attention of public opinion. Immediately after taking office, I engaged the relevant Rts services in an approach aimed at optimizing resources and rationalizing expenses. So, I immediately took measures, particularly on the use of vehicles, fuel and telephone. It is with this in mind that 253 lines are suspended.  As for information and programs, based on the principles of freedom and responsibility, concrete actions are being implemented with a view to reconciling the Rts with citizens through the promotion of content, taking into account pluralism on all levels.” PAN continued: “As for the remuneration paid to staff, I have noted that the salaries for the months of April and May 2024 were paid on the basis of a Company Agreement signed on March 29, 2024 by my predecessor. This agreement, applied in all its clauses, will have an annual financial impact of 1 billion 800 million CFA francs and an impact of 1 billion 350 million CFA francs over the current year. This agreement was backed by the decree implementing the Press Code granting financial advantages to the National Public Broadcaster (Rts). This decree, bearing the number 2024-837, was signed on March 27, 2024 by the outgoing President and is not yet applied since the inter-ministerial decree, setting the terms of payment, has not been issued by the competent authorities.”

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For the new Director General, its application is not possible. “This is why, with no budgetary coverage having been guaranteed to support this impact, I have taken the decision to suspend the application of the Company Agreement of March 29, 2024, pending the effectiveness of the decree. It is foreseeable that, in addition to the rationalization measures already taken, this latest decision affecting salaries could be the cause of mood swings. Only, whatever happens, I will assume all my responsibilities and wait until the sustainability of this agreement is guaranteed to continue its application.”

By Justin GOMIS / justin@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH