Thursday, February 5, 2009

Furloughs coming to McClatchy? scroll for updates

I'm hearing that McClatchy management is planning to furlough workers at one or more newspapers. Details are sketchy. I'm updating as information comes in.

How might a McClatchy furlough program work? Possibly like the Gannett program: Gannett announced last month it will furlough workers the equivalent of one week in the first quarter. This furlough is unpaid. Unions "are being asked to participate."

Via email: Sun News (typo fixed!) employees are hoping the 58 positions lost with outsourcing printing operations will count against the next round of layoffs.
.
From comments, as yet unconfirmed: Macon, Charlotte, Raleigh... wait: a contrary report on Raleigh: no official announcement yet... Charlotte: in meetings, both the publisher and editor have mentioned furloughs, wage cuts and layoffs... Both have said we will definitely lose people... in Lexington, nothing ...

More: Fort Worth Star-Telegram to outsource credit/finance

Questions from readers I'll throw out for other readers to answer:

.
.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

While we wait-

Why is a headline like a Scud missile?

Both are offensive and inaccurate.

Anonymous said...

Another tick tick tick. Enough, we have done that already. Either you know it or you don't,

Anonymous said...

macon ga

Anonymous said...

Just found a way to build up traffic on this web site. Worked last time. It's like a soap opera

Anonymous said...

already announced at the charlotte observer,plus layoffs,in the next 2/3 weeks!
just waitin for the numbers!

Anonymous said...

Raleigh too

Anonymous said...

Come on man, show some professionalism. Go sit in a bar somewhere and hire a stringer to write the story for you.

It is so obvious that you are not a classically trained professional journalist with the highest professional standards. That and the fact that your parents were married.

Anonymous said...

It should say The Sun News regarding the 58 positions, not Sun Herald.

Anonymous said...

Raleigh too? What about Raleigh?

Anonymous said...

Star telegram outsourcing credit\finance dept within 6mths

Thanks bush!!!!! A-hole!!

Anonymous said...

Anon. 2:14 PM

DING DONG! THE WITCH IS DEAD

Anonymous said...

So, were there actual official announcements in Macon, Charlotte & Raleigh or is this just more rumors? Nothing in Lexington today....

Anonymous said...

Other corporations outsource departments such as finance, human resource, information technology, building maintenance.

There no reason that MNI could become just in-house editorial overseers, with all other functions on outside contractors.

Anonymous said...

4:19:

No official announcements in Raleigh yet, but when the managing editor says cuts (expenses, newshole, perhaps jobs) are coming, it seems a bump up from rumor.

Outsourcing the Raleigh truck drivers to Penske is not rumor. I think that was about 70 or so people.

At least some of the Raleigh finance department are now working with Indians prior to apparent outsourcing.

I heard the sale of the Smithfield Herald property was completed. No details.

Anonymous said...

If you are on furlough and are
called to work is that like
triple pay per hour?

Anonymous said...

Are you allowed to say no?

Anonymous said...

if you are fired while on furlough
will a lawyer eat it up?

Anonymous said...

Can you take vacation instead of furlough?

Anonymous said...

Nothing official from Charlotte, but employees have had meetings with both the publisher and editor in which furloughs, wage cuts and layoffs have been mentioned. Both have said we will definitely lose people. And a meeting today all but ensured that furloughs and wage cuts were going to happen. Employees have been told "everything is on the table."

Anonymous said...

"Employees have been told "everything is on the table."

Is there a formula for deciding which employees to layoff?

Anonymous said...

Plans likely to rank by reporter's page views online. Page views = ad money.

Anonymous said...

Hint:

When you notice a copy of "Hindi for Dummies" on your bosses desk, you are screwed.

Anonymous said...

"Hindi for Dummies" Good One!

Anonymous said...

But Jim Witt will keep his job!

Anonymous said...

That would be Jim "Oops" Witt, who hasn't even addressed the troops about the coming blood bath. The Jim Witt/Gary Wortel way: secrecy, backstabbing and mismanagement at its worst.
Do the honorable thing, Jim. Resign.

Anonymous said...

lexington... got the dreaded email... meeting today around 3pm for q&a bs.