[ad_1]
Colleagues have used words like “color” and the word n. Like “Ten Little Black Boys” jokes. Black experts have opted for whites. Employees have been suspected, with reference to their origin, and their impartiality has been questioned. A continuous misstatement of the names of colleagues in the broadcast.
This describes our brave colleagues as part of their daily lives, in the so-called “Whose SR?”
In an article in Dagens Nyheter (9/25), they come out openly and tell what they have experienced in radio houses in Stockholm and around Sweden. What they have been through is completely unacceptable.
We write to support our co-workers and show them that we listen to their stories. Some of us writing here have experienced for ourselves what the call testifies. Racism is present in our workplace, as well as in the rest of society.
To deny it and, as our CEO Cilla Benkö said in Studio One, that “Swedish Radio is not a racist company and that we do not have racist employees”, is to cover up the problems and the culture of silence that obviously exists. Several employees have not dared to sign the appeal, fearing that they would appear rowdy or not get a certain job or extended temporary position. It is serious for the entire public service that a group of employees feel that they have to organize and participate in an anonymous fight to be treated fairly.
How dare we and our colleagues in the future tell managers about misconduct, when we risk being treated like this?
It is painful to witness how the management of Sveriges Radio treats our colleagues and the issues on which they have sounded the alarm. Instead of embracing their strong commitment to public service, independent journalism, and democracy, management questions their stories. The testimonies have been immediately nailed and criticized by the management, which seems incomprehensible given the fact that behind these stories there are more that have not come to light. How dare we and our colleagues in the future tell managers about misconduct, when we risk being treated like this?
And what about Swedish radio? continue to be relevant and live up to your vision of “More voices and stronger stories for greater understanding” if management publicly discredits its own employees?
What we need now is intense internal discussion and action. The management of Sveriges Radio should, instead of suspecting our 39 colleagues or alleging errors of fact and referring to their “feelings”, listen to them and everyone else who did not dare to come forward. And then act to access the racism that Swedish Radio is not exempt from.
Read more:
Call for protest against racism on Swedish radio following in the footsteps of the BLM movement
SD politicians accuse SR employees of political activism
“People who have been racist by their peers have stopped”
