Swiss broadcaster staff urge voters not to cut funding

Staff at Swiss public broadcaster RTS are calling for voters to reject a popular initiative to limit funding of the parent body SRG. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The "CHF200, Enough!" initiative will go to a public vote on March 8. In a statement issued on Thursday, RTS staff defended their public service mission, which is being undermined by the initiative. A manifesto opposing the Swiss People's Party initiative was subsequently circulated. "This staff manifesto is not a complaint, but an appeal", said Alexandre Madrigali, president of the media union SSM Genève. Four RTS employees - journalists, directors and technicians - have condemned the initiative, which they believe jeopardises the very mission of public service. They said they were testifying anonymously because of restrictions imposed by RTS management during the campaign. The initiative aims to reduce the licence fee to CHF200 per year for SRG, which is also the parent company of Swissinfo.