*Headline changed per comments
MediaNews has just announced that non-union employees at all California properties will be required to take one-week unpaid furlough by the end of March, in order to lower expenses. Managers will have to take two weeks unpaid leave within the same period.
The company is interested in implementing furloughs for their union employees but such a move has to be negotiated. The company cannot impose a furlough without first speaking to the Guild.
Obviously the company is in bad financial shape, and we're interested in anything that will help preserve journalism in Southern California. Our first concern is the well being of our members, and we welcome the chance to discuss the company's needs, and how they can accomplish their goals without unfairly impacting their employees.
If you have any concerns or questions on this issue, please feel free to contact a shop steward or email us at scmg9400@gmail.com.
* The Southern California Media Guild has released a statement in response to MediaNews' announcement.
** Chris Berry, Online Editor for the Press-Telegram and Daily Breeze, said he's not aware of any extra furlough for managers, and believes MediaNews is only asking for a one week furlough, in line with the rest of the newsroom. We're trying to confirm our original information, and if we get any details they'll be posted here as we get them.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mandatory furloughs for management, nonunion employees * **
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13 comments:
Preserve yourselves and the livelihood of your families.
Journalism in Southern California cannot be saved.
There is a lengthy memo from management stating "no contract protects against lay offs - I'm confused - wouldn't the 1 year moritorium protect the P-T newsroom employees
"ignore the man behind the green curtain" (from the Wizard of Oz)
YES
The recently negotiated Press-Telegram language is clear there will be NO lay offs in the newsroom at the P-T for one year.
Vicki
CWA Local 9400
It's my understanding that the memo signed by Publisher Mark "Fricarra" and sent to Guild employees in Long Beach is the same memo sent to every other MediaNews employee in California. I'm guessing they didn't feel it was worth their time to prepare a separate memo which more clearly defines our specific labor agreement (including no layoffs).
Why not let Rich Archbold take 20 years off.
"Why not let Rich Archbold take 20 years off."
As long as he takes Larry Allison with him. Remember that Larry's the one who called Dean and asked him to buy the P-T in the first place.
If anyone deserves the pitchfork and torches, it's him.
Hey, change the deceptive header on this item! The cost-cutting through unpaid furloughs isn't just hitting management - it affects all non-union workers, like those of us deskers who were transferred from the PT to the Breeze and were involuntarily stripped of our Guild representation in the process.
Hey, change the deceptive header on this item! The cost-cutting through unpaid furloughs isn't just hitting management - it affects all non-union workers, like those of us deskers who were transferred from the PT to the Breeze and were involuntarily stripped of our Guild representation in the process.
That's a very good point. The fact that the cuts are now starting to impact managers (in some cases with double the strength) seemed particularly noteworthy, but we weren't trying to gloss over the effect they're having on employees like you.
Hey I have an Idea why don't the Breeze people get together and create a union? Come on guys do it just for the sake of doing your time you deserve some respect. Look what they did to Bruce Hazelton. Even if you hate the union, just do it because Dean Hates Unions.
God Speed Bruce..
This is getting ridiculous. someone needs to TAKE A STAND!!! and say enough is enough. it's like LANG employees are just bending over. Please stand up for your selves.
Use your time off wisely and look for another job. At some point, you've got to pay the bills. So glad I'm not with the evil empire any longer.
Furloughs have hit the rest of the MediaNews empire now.
MediaNews has turned it all into a rag. When Knight Ridder owned the PT, everyone was paid well. It was a destination paper.
Torrance was also a respectable paper under Copley. And look at the Merc. At one time, one of the most respected papers around and now it's a shell of what it was. Just a rubber stamp of Lang.
They are destroying the Daily News. And moving production to San Gabe is going to make it worse.
All work done in San Gabe. Can you say rubber stamp?
For folks to be terrified to lose their job says a lot. It's like staying in an abusive marriage and being scared to leave. Lang people act like it's their fault...too afraid to speak up. Too afraid to take a stand. Too afraid to challenge. To maybe call in sick. And guess what folks? When Lang is done with you, they will chew you up and spit you out. There is no loyalty. I repeat no loyalty. That is the irony for the folks who are afraid and scared to take a stand. Or at the very least defend selves. So they stay in the battered marriage and take the beatings.
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