10/01/2024, 17:00
The layoffs in Agora will include many more people than in 2022 (Photo: press materials)
Agora has announced the implementation of a collective layoff procedure, according to which up to 190 employees will lose their jobs. As journalists working in Warsaw told “Preservice”, the reduction of jobs may affect several dozen people not only in the Warsaw editorial office, but also in the regions.
The decision of the board of directors means that by the end of March – that is, by the time the processes related to the separation of companies in Agora should be completed – 14-15 percent may lose their jobs. the whole crew. In connection with the mentioned issue, the management board met with the representatives of all three trade unions operating in Agora – thus, consultations on the collective dismissal began.
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– The first meeting was of a technical nature, we set the dates for the meeting – Natalya Mazuri, the chairman of “Solidarity” in Agora, told “Preservice”.
– The crew's reaction to the dismissal is shown by the fact that within a few minutes of the announcement, those wishing to join the union contacted us – says Igor Rakovsky-Klos, a member of the presidium of the working committee. Inicjatywa trade union “Presserwis”. Pracownicza at Agora
– It is not yet known whether specific departments will be liquidated, – the journalists of “GW” tell us. We also hear: – I wonder how the whole process will affect the Gazeta.pl team. After a good launch during the pandemic, the website recently had worse financial results.
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There are also questions about employment in the regions. We hear similar opinions in two branches: – If we have to fight for good content from the regions, we cannot be dismissed. We are simply not enough now. There is a lack of content from the regions because there is no one to search for topics, let alone real news. The potential is great, there is a place in the market, but we lack authors.
According to the stock exchange statement, the exceptions in the “digital and print press” and “internet” areas are due to “market factors caused by the continuing downward trend in print press sales, which is related to the outflow of readers.” communication channels”. In the Internet space, the reason is “the obvious deterioration of the revenues from advertising sales in the open market model and the increase in the position of global platforms”.
“Due to these factors, the company must take measures to adapt to the changing market environment and customer expectations, and restructuring is a necessary condition to stabilize the financial situation of the digital and print press and Internet areas, as well as to ensure their stability.” , development and position of the market in the coming years”, – we read in the statement of the exchange.
However, some are open about the extent of the layoffs. Igor Rakovsky – Klos: – It was expected that before the companies were separated, there would be some steps on the part of the management board regarding employment. Still, I was outraged when I heard the extent of the layoffs announced. They include much more people than in 2022 (then it was about 84 people – ed.). The number of layoffs is high, and this fact will certainly affect not only the people who will leave the company, but also those who will stay and wonder for many weeks whether they are in line to be laid off. The trial is scheduled for the end of March, Rakovsky-Kloss notes.
And he continues: – It is really hard to imagine what mental pressure the employees will have to face for almost the entire quarter.
Last December in Agora, the chairman of “Solidarity” Natalya Mazur told us about the greater interest in trade union membership. Employees were already fearing layoffs due to the spin-off process of the aforementioned companies.
– People ask us what we are doing and what is the benefit of joining the union, they hand over the declaration – Natalya Mazur told us then. We remind you that the trade unionists asked the leadership about the dismissal at the beginning of December last year. An official letter has been sent for this purpose. In return, they received promises to meet after the New Year. We assure you that we are ready to discuss the compensation policy, the situation of the employees and the situation of the company. We are currently in the process of developing the budget,” the board of directors of Agora wrote on December 15 in response to written questions.
According to the financial results of the third quarter of last year, Agora Group. Revenues from the sale of advertising services in the Internet, digital and print press segments were lower than a year ago. Online advertising revenue decreased by 14%. and amounted to less than PLN 35 million. As the president of Agora, Bartosz Hojka, explained – during the video conference dedicated to the presentation of the results – this trend was, among others, connected. by a decrease in revenues from advertising sales generated in the Gazeta.pl department itself, mainly due to a decrease in revenues from programmatic advertising. – Unfortunately, in the third quarter this market was characterized by bad dynamics – explained Hozhka.
(MZD, 10/01/2024)
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