Start TV employees laid off
Some of the Start staff, pictured in their former line-up. Photo: FB/Irous Lela
CORFU. Employees at Start TV – Radio Corfu were unexpectedly notified of a suspension of operations and layoffs. They are awaiting developments until Monday and, if nothing changes, will seek the intervention of the Labour Inspectorate.
The employees of Start TV – Radio Corfu intend to wait until Monday following the surprise notification they received from the station’s owners on Thursday morning that they were being laid off and that the station’s operations were being suspended. If there is no change or arrangement by then, they say they will take the matter to the Labour Inspectorate.
According to what they told Enimerosi, there had been no prior warning of an impending suspension of the channel’s operations, and the decision was communicated to them unexpectedly on Thursday morning.
The news became more widely known following a post by sports journalist Matoula Andrioti, a contributor to the station and creator of the programme “Athlologies”.
“Today, we were unexpectedly informed by the management of Start TV – Radio Corfu that the station’s operations are being suspended, and consequently so are ours,” she wrote, while also announcing the suspension of the long-running sports programme.
Enimerosi also contacted other employees and contributors to the station, who confirmed Thursday’s events and said they had been caught completely by surprise.
In recent weeks, the channel had been experiencing technical problems, mainly with the console in the main studio. The employees, however, had continued working to resolve the issues and, as they said, the necessary technical solutions had already been identified. Consequently, staff regarded the problems as matters requiring repair rather than as an indication of an impending suspension of operations.
Following Thursday’s announcement, the employees decided to wait until Monday. If there is no development in the meantime that changes the situation, they intend to approach the Labour Inspectorate over the employment issues arising from the owners’ decision.
When we contacted the station’s management, we were told that announcements concerning the future of the channel would be made in the coming days. The management confirmed the decision to dismiss all employees, clarifying that the channel is still broadcasting programmes, but not its own news productions.
The development leaves the remaining staff without work and creates yet another gap in Corfu’s local online media.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
