Paris (AFP)

Radio France has outlined the outlines of its plan for voluntary departures and has set the removal of 299 posts with the creation of 76 more by 2022, announced Thursday the president of the public group.

"299 positions will be removed and 76 positions will be created to integrate Radio France essential profiles to ensure our future," said Sibyle Veil in a letter sent to employees and consulted by AFP.

"All departures will be voluntary (...) I made sure to limit the number of voluntary departures of employees," she continues.

The announcement of this new savings plan for the public group sparked a very active strike in June. Management had put forward the figure of 390 job cuts, following a recommendation by the Court of Auditors.

An independent firm, mandated by the Social Committee of Radio France, had qualified the economies referred to as "oversized", and estimated that 118 positions could be spared.

If no negotiation took place since the strike, Sibyle Veil presented this new objective of 299 posts Thursday morning in the central committee of company, before defending it Friday in front of the employees.

"In the coming months, we will conduct the consultation of the elected representatives of the staff and the negotiation on the conditions of departure", writes Sibyle Veil.

"My goal is that Radio France continues to conquer tomorrow to be the public service benchmark - what we are today - in a financial context that, you know, is very constrained," she continues in her letter.

"Almost 300 job cuts, it is unsustainable," responded in a statement the SNJ syndicate of Radio France. "Beyond the starting criteria, what worries are the working conditions of those who will stay ... How to do more with less staff?"

"Contrary to Sibyle Veil's assertion, this is not a simple reorganization of the public service of the radio, it is a serious weakening that puts us at the mercy of our competitors." A weakening organized before a forced marriage with France Televisions? "Asks the SNJ.

Radio France will be reunited at the beginning of 2021 in the "France Médias" holding company, with France Télévisions, France Médias Monde and the INA (National Audiovisual Institute).

The savings plan of Sibyle Veil aims to anticipate the decline in the contribution of the State (less 20 million euros over four years) and the increase in staff costs, and plans to invest more in the digital.

This plan also provides for a reorganization of work schedules to avoid the use of fixed-term contracts.

© 2019 AFP