Mediapro strike: TV broadcast of the last three La Liga matches is in jeopardy.

BarcelonaThe unions CNT Barcelona, ​​CGT Catalunya, and Comisiones Obreras have called a strike at the various Mediapro companies responsible for broadcasting La Liga matches for the final three matchdays of the competition. Among the affected matches that could not be broadcast on television due to the strike is the derby between Espanyol and Barça, where the Catalans could emerge champions. The workers called to the strike are those responsible for the production, direction, and broadcasting of the matches, as well as the assembly, disassembly, and transport of audiovisual equipment.

According to the unions, the strike stems from LaLiga's decision to transfer audiovisual production rights to the Swiss company Host Broadcast Services (HBS), which "has left the job security of the technical professionals working on match broadcasts up in the air." The unions' main demands are to convert temporary contracts into permanent ones, recognize seniority, and have a guarantee of continuity that maintains current working conditions. "With only a few days left until the end of the 2024/25 season, HBS hasn't lifted a finger to replace the workforce, leaving 800 workers and their families abandoned," say CGT Catalunya, which emphasizes that the audiovisual sector is highly precarious. "Currently, there are camera operators earning exactly the same as 20 years ago. The football business survives thanks to exploitation: if there are no labor rights, there will be no broadcasting!" they added. By calling the strike, the workers want LaLiga, Mediapro, and HBS to negotiate.

Mediapro sources explain to ARA that the company "is trying by all means to avoid a strike, giving the necessary peace of mind to the workers." In this regard, they invoke a clause present in the collective bargaining agreement for the audiovisual sector that, in their opinion, requires the subrogation of personnel who are performing a specific stable task if the contracting company changes. But it remains to be seen whether HBS will assume this possibility. Union sources revealed to this newspaper that, for now, the Swiss company has left the workers who were expecting to meet with them this Thursday stranded. Meanwhile, Mediapro assures that, if there is ultimately a strike, they will look "to ensure the impact is as minimal as possible."

While waiting for what HBS does, for the moment the prospects rule out the idea of total subcontracting to Mediapro, which in theory would be the most beneficial solution for the workers. The Swiss company has allied with the Italian company NVP to create a joint venture NVP is a Spanish company that will manage La Liga's operations for the upcoming season. However, this company doesn't have Spanish personnel, so it's understood that it would have to hire local staff to be on the field, in the mobile units. NVP, in fact, is very small compared to Mediapro, since in Italy each club produces the matches that take place in its stadium, and therefore the sports production landscape is much more fragmented than in Spain.

The workers assert that Mediapro intends to implement a collective redundancy plan (ERE) if HBS does not agree to the subrogation of the workers. "We want a signed and binding document before the end of the La Liga season, ensuring that no acquired rights or conditions will be lost. We also want a guarantee that those who are not subrogated will not be laid off and that they will remain working in Mediapro group companies," explain sources from the CGT, the majority union at the Barcelona workplace. However, the Catalan production company maintains that a collective redundancy plan (ERE) is not being considered, as it relies on the subrogation of the staff.

The strike is scheduled for matchdays 36, 37, and 38 of La Liga, and would affect matches such as Valladolid-Girona, Espanyol-Barça, Barça-Villarreal, Girona-Atlético de Madrid, and Atlético-Barça. Unions are demanding that companies "assume responsibility" and assert that if labor rights are not respected, the championship will not be broadcast.