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Guild Seeks End to Discrimination at EFE
Guild fights discrimination
08 Mar 2006
Coral Gables, Fla. March 8, 2006 – Negotiators for the News Media Guild demanded that the EFE News Service stop unjust discrimination in the workplace today, saying the company’s latest proposals only further widen the unfair gap between Spaniards and non-Spaniards at the agency.
“There is an Iberian ceiling at EFE that relegates non-Spaniards to second-class status,” said Tony Winton, NMG president. “This flies in the face of the company’s own internal policies and must be corrected, he said.
EFE defended its proposal, saying it was not discriminating. But Guild negotiators said they were prepared to give example after example of superior treatment for Spaniards, pointing out that the company’s proposal was so regressive that it wouldn’t even permit an impartial arbitrator from hearing discrimination complaints raised by the union.
“Discrimination is pervasive at the company, in everything from wages and benefits to even the way news assignments are made,” said Jorge Bañales, a negotiating committee member. It’s part of the culture of the company,” he added.
EFE’s discrimination proposal would require that employees file costly lawsuits at their expense to have any hope of stopping discriminatory treatment. EFE’s proposal also would allow the company to have different anti-discrimination policies in different cities, depending on local laws. Finally, it would allow discrimination by sexual preference, citizenship status, family responsibilities, nationality, and other areas that are less than the company’s internal guidelines.
“We think all of EFE’s employees – Spaniards and non-Spaniards - should be treated the same, regardless of location,” said Benito García, chair of the negotiating committee. “Why is EFE insisting on double standards?” he asked.
EFE’s initial proposal to the union would further discriminate against workers, widening the gap between Spaniards and non-Spaniards by:
* Reducing vacation time for employees
* Reducing sick leave for employees
* Reducing holidays for some employees
* Allow employees to be transferred from bureau to bureau without cause and against their will or lose employement
* Deny employees the right to be fairly considered for jobs in Spain and in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Guild and the company reached tentative agrrement on two contract articles – Employee Expenses and Payroll Information.
Both sides are working on setting the next negotiating date in April.
Representing the Guild were Winton, García, Bañales, and photo representative Esteban Prieto.
Representing EFE were Emilio Sánchez, Miami bureau chief, and attorney Rudy Gómez.