Sao Tome, Oct. 29, 2025 (Lusa) - Journalists working for the Sao Tome and Principe public press began an indefinite strike on Wednesday, demanding better working conditions, respect and decent wages, announced the journalists’ union.
According to Fernanda Costa Alegre, spokesperson for the Sao Tome and Principe Journalists’ Union (SJS), the strike is motivated by the government’s failure to comply with the demands presented in a list of demands submitted in September, which, despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding, has not been fully implemented.
On Tuesday, union members met with officials from the office of Prime Minister Américo Ramos, who directly oversees state media outlets, but no new agreement was reached, so they began the strike that paralysed the services of Televisão Santomense (TVS), Rádio Nacional and the STP-Press news agency.
“ This time we want the situation of the media and media professionals to be resolved,” Fernanda Costa Alegre stressed.
“We are not enemies of the government and its officials, we are here to work, to do our best, but for that to happen, the government must also show some sensitivity,” she added.
According to the union leader, the main reason for the strike is the alleged lack of transparency in the management of the audiovisual tax paid by citizens through bills charged by the Water and Electricity Company (EMAE).
"What we want is a decree stating that the audiovisual tax belongs to the media and is managed by media organisations, which has not been the case [...] what we demand is transparency,” emphasised Fernanda Costa Alegre, adding that there have been discrepancies in the information provided by EMAE and the government, which manages the account where the money is deposited.
The union took the opportunity to denounce some measures implemented by certain sovereign bodies that restrict the work of the press.
“At the Presidency of the Republic, a media professional cannot enter wearing a T-shirt, trainers and jeans,” she explained, emphasising that “professionals are not obliged to leave home dressed in a suit and tie every day”.
The union members promised to be open to negotiations aimed at improving conditions for state media outlets in the country and guaranteed the provision of minimum services, as defined by law.
JYAF/AYLS // AYLS
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