Here's the announcement from Gary Wortel:To: All Employees
From: Gary Wortel
Subject: Workforce and Wage Reductions
Date: March 5, 2009
We will reduce our workforce by about 12% of all employees. Please know that we did everything possible to minimize the impact of layoffs as outlined in the other expense savings plans below. Reductions will occur in virtually all areas of our operation.
Although some of these job eliminations will occur through involuntary layoffs, there also will be opportunities for employees to voluntarily select a severance package where reductions are occurring in work groups of {two} or more employees.
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If enough employees do not take the voluntary option, then the work groups will be reduced according to least tenure.
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All affected will be notified today and provided with information about a transition package. If a voluntary option is being offered to your work group you will receive written notification with additional information today.
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The package being offered is identical in terms to the ones that were offered last year.
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We will implement a wage reduction for employees whose compensation exceeds $25,000 annually. $25,000 to $49,999 will receive a 2.5% reduction, $50,000 to $99,999 will receive a 5% reduction and over $100,000 will receive a 10% reduction. This applies to everyone, including myself, with the exception of some operational employees, who will receive reduced work hours.
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... These wage reductions will be effective with the pay period beginning April 6, 2009. Your first paycheck to have the wage reduction will be April 24, 2009.
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Senior management bonuses have been eliminated for 2009 and advertising sales management compensation is being reduced.
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...These are difficult decisions, especially when it means saying goodbye to so many friends and colleagues. But we must make these expense reductions to protect the financial health of the newspaper, adjust to economic challenges and remain competitive.We also must make major strides in growing revenues.
Just last week we announced the launch of our new free entertainment publication, DFW.com Ink Edition. The product will publish weekly starting in April.
...We know these repeated announcements about the need to reduce expenses and restructure our business are difficult and disruptive, but we ask for your continued focus during these challenging circumstances. Your contributions and dedication are the keys to our future. Human resources will be setting up informational meetings in the next few days ...
Gary
Gary Wortel
Publisher Star-Telegram
UPDATE: A commenter has heard 132 full-time positions are being eliminated.
UPDATE #2: Business Journal says approximately 120 positions.
For the latest update on layoffs at other McClatchy newspapers, click here.
Photo credit: Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches
Hat tip: email and comments
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106 comments:
Love the Orwellian phrase "transition packages".
At this point, it's probably better money to live on unemployment, Jesus.
and I have to ask why is a salary now called "compensation"? wtf? compensation? it's a salary, using that word they act as though they are being benevolent to pay us.
Why is Wortel bragging about producing a "free" entertainment publication beginning next month?
Bizarre.
The Charlotte Observer is next. Rumors are flying around about layoffs and salary reductions.
12% is a prety large slice of what's left of the pie
Any word about Raleigh and when layoffs will be announced?
anyone know what happened to the Star-Telegram's much-touted DaFoWo Show?
Re: DaFoWoShow. The Daily Showesque webcast was canned a few months ago, after one of the "stars" left for another job. Despite the constant touting of this by S-T management, it never produce any ad revenue and its traffic was very small. It generated even less traffic than online features like the sports and business blogs, but had two employees working basically full time producing it. Thus the decision to junk it. To be fair, after it rocky start it actually got pretty good near the end.
--Why is Wortel bragging about producing a "free" entertainment publication beginning next month? --
Because it has made a profit in other markets.
Is the newsroom going to be cut 12 percent, too? Or is it going to be hit even harder?
reduction in pay? the percentages do not work well if you are at the bottom of the scale...so you make $51,000 your 5% cut is going to hurt more than if you make $99,000. They should have used increments of $25,000 and 1% And who in their right mind thinks they can get more revenue thru online ads? No one is advertising!! A one week furlough...even GM employees get something!
The free entertainment publication was suggested several years ago to be put at airports, available at conventions, in free racks near sight seeing points of interest and in hotels to promote local spending by visitors........cost to be covered by local business advertising their products or wares. Although the pub with articles of what to see and do in the area is free, the advertising would not be.
Info given when the product was proposed was it did produce income to a couple of other papers.....but that suggestion was made several years ago.
Newsroom is being cut 20%
Any word about the Kansas City Star and layoffs?
McClatchy stock down to 36 cents a share right now! Anybody still think the corporate bosses aren't serious about major job cuts?
Love the Orwellian phrase "transition packages".
Add "will receive" a pay cut. As though they are giving you something you would like.
Leave it to the sneaky Wortel to state the percentage but not the actual number of jobs being cut in his fourth round of job cuts in less than a year. In the last round in September the paper didn't even have a story about how many jobs were cut.
"Saying goodbye to friends." I didn't know "Hatchet Man" Wortel had a single friend in the building.
Sickout is on for Friday. Pass the word.
--did produce income to a couple of other papers.....but that suggestion was made several years ago.--
In the conference call a year ago it was stated that Ink Kc was profitable to the tune of 2 million a year
Anon 10:19 Sickout is on for Friday. Pass the word.
Why don't you call it the NEWSPRINT FLU.
Sickout Friday sounds like a great idea.
"To be fair, after it rocky start it actually got pretty good near the end." You have to be fucking kidding me.
DaFoWoShow=when newspapers jump the shark
Attention pressmen: Call in sick. Do it asap. Shut it down. Let Wortel run the presses without his "friends."
In the photo notice it is taken at night. First and second floor is advertising staff, 4th is editorial and 5th on the right end is accounting......3rd as you see it is Exec offices and IT.
"In the photo notice it is taken at night. First and second floor is advertising staff, 4th is editorial and 5th on the right end is accounting......3rd as you see it is Exec offices and IT."
What exactly does that mean?
Don't know what that means, unless we need to call in coordinates for a targeted airstrike on the exec offices.
did editorial move to the 4th floor?
Jim Witt is a dick.
No editorial move..the second floor as you see it is actually called the Mezzanine which most wouldn't understand so I just wrote floors 1,2,3,4,5......point being sales, editorial and accounting are all working into the night..........
Will there be another editorial-mandatory meeting so Jim and Wortel can tell us how good this is going to be for the S-T's quality of journalism?
If so, PLEASE, someone call him on it!
Ref: the photo. You are really leaving a team that has been hit the worst. Look at the top level and to the far left. See those lights, that's your advertising design team that has been torn to shreads! They are the ones that are working the long hours all day! That department starts at 6am and works til 1 or 2 am, because of the cuts from last year that gave jobs to the people across the ocean. And does anyone thank them for trying to keep things alive???
12:00,
I am married to one of those people (at another property) and they really are often forgotten in all of this.
The decision to send that work overseas cost many of them their jobs before the layoffs spread to other departments. Many people felt like it was not taken seriously when it was "just ad services."
The pain other departments are feeling now from increased workload to declining quality to being asked to train the people who would be taking their jobs has been shouldered by that department at many papers for much longer editorial, advertising, finance, press room or any other division.
I feel for you. I really do.
Sickout Friday is on. If you don't want to call in sick, report to work and engage in a work slowdown. Let's do this every Friday. The only thing that rat Wortel understands is cash money, and if his actions start costing the S-T money, then he will be shown the door. Adios mofo.
Why do I have this image of the people bailing a sinking boat deciding to pull a work slowdown as a means of improving things?
Because you're not smart enough to know the emergency generator is still running and the Captain is saving money by not turning on the bilge pumps?
About the photo...
Do you know what time of day it was taken? I work nights at the Star-Telegram and you can't tell jack from that thing. Lights get turned on and off by us, the cleaning crew and security guards.
I learned from a source at S-T that a total of 132 full time positions will be eliminated. They were given envelopes today with a choice to leave voluntarily. There will be involuntary layoffs if enough people don't take the severance package.
I know for a fact that there are many press operators that are fed up with their job (no longer a career) and have been longing for this next round of layoffs. The operations Mngr. might get more than he bargained for. There may not be anyone left to run the presses after this round. I know of one individual that was laidoff involuntarily a year ago and was recently rehired part-time. And even though I've only seen him work one shift since his rehire, I believe the company will rehire more part-timers to fill in the upcoming vacancies. McClatchy simply wants to do away with benefits, and I use the term loosely, so it can hire cheap part time labor.
As for Wortel's memo "...These are difficult decisions, especially when it means saying goodbye to so many friends and colleagues." he's so full of Sugar Honey Ice Tea, even Charles Manson has more friends that he does. So he says the wage reduction applies to himself also, I feel so sorry for him... NOT!
The FW Weekly seems to be doing pretty well. Wonder if they are hiring?
Remember folks, they are looking to thin the herd. Any actions that would allow termination for cause means they will not have to pay severance and maybe not unemployment.
Think before you act.
A lot of people (not in editorial) got the axe today--after being told they were a pivotal part of the "new business model" Wortel so eloquently spoke of in June.
Today, they were told their positions were being eliminated because their jobs had become redundant. These people worked countless nights and weekends just to keep up with the extra work load they were given in June.
McClatchy: despicable
Just heard from a 20+ year employee that got the boot. He named 3 other long time guys that are going with him.
Sad...
My heart is breaking seeing dear friends "separated" from a once great newspaper, like I was 9 months ago. The biz will never be the same again! But there is an afterlife outside of the S-T.
My prayers go out to those leaving and those left to keep the ship afloat.
The only reason myself and Three other Team Leaders, with 20+ years got the boot is because we were on salary and they couldn't cut our hrs. to 36. I had hourly people making more than my salary. I didn't care. Guess I should not have tried to better myself and move up in the company. Shouldn't have been so dam dumb.
The week before my job was eliminated in June, I was told by a manager that I wasn't going to get "the package." Lesson learned: trust your instincts and know that some people only think they know what's going on.
I'm sorry for all the people laid off today. It's gut-wrenching, but you will survive. Welcome to the macaroni and cheese life.
Thxs 7:14, but after today I feel better its over, and I'm going for the red beans, rice and sauage. (LOL) But 20 yrs for no respect, that cuts deep.
i just found out that i'll be laid off...so, i'm glad that finaly i'll be out of this mess...star telegram sucks anyway...it is time to move on. this company will not survive a 12 months period from today
i feel sorry for my fellow press operators that might get laid off.biloxi sun herald is gonna take a hit too-we've lost 4 of our guys in the last 2 rounds of layoffs-any more and we might not get the paper out.
Not get the paper out for shame on you.
In the blogs there is call for cuts to middle management but see the comment by 6:48. Most middle management I know at the S-T work their tushes off for not much more or even less than some they supervise.
Dedication and loyalty used to be the cornerstones of the work relationship on both sides of the fence (see 7:57)but now there is none from the management side (courtesy of MNI) and it has killed all the feelings on the employee's side.....at every level.
Both statements hurt but they are true. There are a lot of cases of DGASA......"Dont Give A S*** Anymore" within the company.
I can't believe they dumped RonO and left others untouched. You'll be OK buddy.
Don't forget Daniel Gudat, hell of a team leader. Always got the job done.
got rid of Ron o and Daniel D out of maintenance and Kept Don and Jessie who make more money and do not work. Pressroom got rid of 9 pressmen and 3 team leaders and 1 roller crew team leader- all gone Oscar, Arthur, David and Percy and they kept Tommy WORTHLESS Carr and James easy Riddle. pressroom will go down fast-losing to many good people-
Middle management is not necessarily the problem. Don't misunderstand me: There are plenty in middle management that could and should go, but the correct answer is to look for savings from top to bottom rather than subscribing to a misguided notion that one area or another is not carrying their weight.
Upper-middle to upper management often got their jobs because they new what butts to kiss. True middle management, however, usually got there (and often no higher) because they were good at their jobs.
Many in middle management with 10 years of A+ experience make the same as or less than someone with 20 years of C+ experience.
The answer is not to eliminate those people who have demonstrated an ability to get the job done. The answer is to empower them to be more productive.
If someone is a great reporter, or designer, or salesperson ... it is silly to ask them to give that up for the sake of ungodly amounts of paperwork when they become a manager.
Reduce the paperwork, let them continue to do what they do best WHILE managing a team and productivity will increase.
Don't for get they kept kyle(1.4m)
moore and robert(hitler) johnson
What about J.R.- what does he do?
Quality is our biggest problem and Donnie runs maintenance - now the roller crew is all gone. Do we still have a Manager over a Manager- Look at Thomas a 60 thousand dollar a year man in the parts room.- we don't need that.
JR bulls***s Paul Keeses who knows nothing about the Pressroom. Donnies protected and he protects Thomas, Russ P and he moved Robert McCoy to Building Maint. to protect him. No brainer.
Quote "we are very sorry to tell you that, as a result of this review and subsequent reduction in our workforce your position is being eliminated. Your last day of employment with the Star-Telegram will be March 20, 2009. We understand how disruptive this decision may be for you, and we will do everything we can to make this transition as smooth as possible."
I was told to be there to see the new production schedule. But when the "packets" got passed out I didn'nt get one. I was lead into a office. And handed a "packet" with that quote in it afer 20+yrs.
My advice to those getting laidoff: file your unemployment claim TODAY and cash that severance check ASAP! Remember that when one door closes, another one opens. God bless you all and your families.
I have a logic question:
What is the justification for shedding the young, hungry and underpaid in favor of retaining the old, complacent and overpaid?
11:01, I learned 20 years ago to never try to reason with the S-T logic. It has been backasswards since I hired on and it will drive you nuts trying to figure it out.
I dont understand why they go by seniority here.Most who have seniority turn out to be the slackers, the dead weight,the weakest links. in our department,which is small,we lost a hard worker and kept the slacker who sits in the office and feels hes worked there 25 years its his earned right. they should go by work performance not time or tenure!
And did Jim Witt take a pay cut? is this known or will he just sit in his office and send out more OOPS emails?
Hey Jim: a close friend of yours confirmed you read this so at least let us know if you also took a cut.
So 9 pressmen and 4 Team Leaders gone. How many pressmen are left in the herd, including TL's?
I have another Question, and all this relates to full time employees. Approximately 20% of the news room are going, 30 at the best to 40% of pressroom maintenance, close to 40% of pressmen, 80 to a hundred percent of team leaders depending on the department. ok maybe 2 questions, where does that fit in with the 12 per cent of staff reduction that was announced by the publisher. Oh wait, that leads to my second question, how many managers are getting voluntary or involuntary lay offs, on the last count I think it was three, hm now lets add these figures up. Paule Keese, Donny LeGrande, Hooper,JR,Tommy,James,Don,Jessie,Robert,Quentin,Thomas,Chetand just about everyone that is in any position to cause problems stayed I am sure there are a lot more managers that could be counted. so Lets assume about two or three percent. Lets keep the people that make lots of money and produce nothing and let go everyone that produces something and makes no money.
One comment I have to make, because I haven't seen any praise for the packaging managers or staff yet, Its a sad day when people like Charles Russ, Terry Phillips and the other full time places have been removed, management needs to rethink regroup and actually keep the people that work and fire the dross.
No wait that means they have to fire their good friends, I heard a comment when I started years ago, unless you suck d--- and be willing to become someone that gets thrown under a bus, you might rethink about working here. So Sad.
Too many chiefs, not enough indians.
It makes me mad and sad for a co-worker and many others,that not only am i loosing the best team player on my team but also a friend whom i've grown close too.Together we make a hell of a team! Now i am left with someone whom waits to see what part of the workload will she get done and what part doesn't he have to do! Go figure they keep the laziest ones and get rid of the hardest working. It wouldnt cut so deep or be as hard to accept if the slackers actually pulled thier weight around but they dont. We say its a part of the good ole boy system, the more u work,the less ur appreciated around star-telegram. dont work, they love u!!!!
Tommy Carr a real prick and d- sucker- will fall sooner or later.-Kyle.1.9m more will fall - and Easy James Riddle will be eased out-the company will go bankrupt-
What about J.R. - AND HIS WIFE-do they tag team?
I am still trying to get my head around the percentages, 12% acroos the board, out of that 12%, 80% of that are worker bees that actually produce the honey, when that 80% has gone the drones will die. No Honey no food go figure. Laziness will catch up with you eventually, and I am picturing the shocked faces soon, you can't lay me off surely not, I did everything you asked. ha ha as a friend of mine once said, they are only in this for themselves, when times get hard its gonna be who are you again, I don't know you, I can't save your job this time cause I won't get my bonus if I do.
Maybe the government will give Star Telegram managers and VPs a stimulus package so they can save the paper, then they can reinstate their bonuses and wonder why the presses arent running.
As if you can't tell I am a little P----d off with the whole situation.
When was the last time apart from Zennig that a Vp or publisher or even any other vp came in on a Saturday night to check the quality of the paper, not once that I know of. So basically we can put anything we want out the door, and they will pick up on it the next day and ream someone that has no real control of the situation. I can't wait for the day in the near future when a vp or manager is going to be called in to run the press, I am thinking we will get a green meat add again.
Who cares- cry your tears out- find another job and move on- you spell like Oscar- Is that you Oscar.
All I have to say is: Ha ha ha ha! Now that I've been gone for a few months, I *LOVE* watching such a terrible company crumble to the ground!
Hey GW... I still haven't had to touch the severance money *and* I'm getting unemployment. Looks like YOUR COMPANY will be out of money before I am! Hope it was worth it, you pitifully worthless sack of crap! Rot in Hell!
I went back for a visit several evenings ago and two things that I noticed that bother me.
1. I noticed a new faux marble wall in the hallway between the pressroom and packaging. It had a large plaque of someone (didnt bother to see who it was) on it.
2. They have removed the cage in packaging that the maintenance department was using and now there is a new shop (?) being built.
If the S-T is so broke and needs the money bad enough to eliminate positions, why are they spending money on things such as these? Are these thing really necessary?
I am sure that there are other foolish things being bought, but these are the two examples that I saw.
BBQ rusty
6:59, you had better stay clear of Rusty, animals have a sense as to who likes them and who does not like them. His horns are mighty long and sharp!
Word on the street is - some Managers in the pressroom is getting eliminated-
Like Tommy Carr, James Riddle, OR maybe even JR Werkmeister
Whoever is making the decision of eliminating full time pressmen and recalling former pressmen to work part-time should be a shame of yourselves! Yes, that's a FACT!
Kyle Moore the 1.9 million dollar man reported to several guys today that JR Werkmeister will lose his job as of Friday 3-20-09- This is now confirm- who will be next.
Quentin is leaving. FYI
You could have given me credit, somehow, for use of my picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82405087@N00/418945520
Ouch! Busted!
FRIDAY IS MY LAST DAY BITCHES!!!!!!
cool - Most of u fools- Thurday was the last day- and just had to come in Friday to sign for ypur servence pay
You fuckers got me-
you cock suckers - now I can watch the Dallas Morning News take over.
Suck my big black donkey dick you bitches!!!
........management up there is a fucking joke with that "well..just be thankful you have a job" and "We make money but McClatchy takes it away for the losses of other newspapers" mentality. You better hope the sheep don't wake up from that slave mind shuffle and fetchit technique and realize they taking it up the ass better than Jenna Jamison lol, did you you see the look of the depressed thats staying there..you'd think they were in holocaust camps...oh well..damn did forgot to cancel my subscription?.
There seem to be some consistencies across papers.
1. "We're actually making money. McClatchey is taking our profits elsewhere."
2. "We've actually got more readers now than ever, they're just reading online."
3. They're firing at the bottom and leaving the higher-ups alone. The structure of all of these papers looks like a diamond, fat across the shoulders, a little chunky at the top and very few Indians at the bottom.
4. Which suggests that McClathchey is either just taking care of its cronies until it goes into the tank. If they actually thought they were going to make it, they would enforce a meritocracy with a vengeance and start experimenting with fresh ideas. They're doing neither.
Looks like you folks are on the Titanic unless someone with a brain takes over at the top.
I know all you guys are sore because you are leaving and Paul and Donnie did most of you guys wrong at the South plant- (including J.R.)But I think it is a blessing- you guys got some money out of the deal and move on -I still have to deal with these idiots here and I wish they would have eliminated my position. Let me ask a question here- why we don't have any black guys in upper management in this south plant? Are we still in the 50's or 60's and race plays a big factor.
Quentin was the close - but they would not never letn him get on up them stairs and now he is gone-Then you have Jessie Hardin- he don't know where A-press is - but we let J.R. go and keep him- maybe we just want to keep a black fool and not the smart one like Quentin.
Learn to spell Percy.....
Well now don't push it guys- you got a black president- now you want a black v.p at the south plant- well its not going to happen.The good old boys are here to stay. Tommy Carr maybe a little closer than Jessie Hardin- Tommy do know where A-press is.
Don't turn this into a "race issue." It is bad enough that ya are the only newspaper to give full names when talking about current/former co-workers. Those that are doing the naming should be termed immediately with no package!!!
You have to call it like it is...race is a big factor at the star-telegram- really at the south plant.
Race is only an issue at the S-T because of a hand full of minorities that have made an issue out of it.
Lets quit bashing everyone. We are all in the same boat here...
where is the black managers and v.p. at in the south plant-thats why race is a issue- we only promote that inner circle.
You got to work at the south plant to understand it- Mark B ghost still hunts us and we still follow his rules with guys like Kyle Moore and Robert Johnson still in place. Its REALLY NOT RACE- IT IS JUST A GOOD O BOY SYSTEM IN PLACE.
6:34 PM - So, you support a quota system? The company has to have X number of minorities in management or you wont be happy?
Like 6:42 said, it's a good ol boy system. If you arent in it, you wont go anywhere.
Just look at it. Donnie, Hooper, Kyle, Russ, McCoy, Don, Jesse, etc...
Have you seen anyone in the good ol boy group get laid off? Nope. They are all protected!
I thouht Wortel was going to break up that good o boy group- because those guys get paid good and they don't work. What do we need them for.
why no more comments, are yall star-telegram employees scared you will lose your jobs if u r caught posting.
hey chuck why did u leave the star-telegram to make cardboard boxes,what happened to working on airplanes?
we all will be gone real soon- the paper is done- we don't even do maintenance on the presses anymore- I never thought I would say where is JR- but Jessie is just here and has no knowledge- it shows me no one cares. So fuck it.......I don't do nothing anymore-just buying my time.
hey chuck why did u leave the star-telegram to make cardboard boxes,what happened to working on airplanes?
May 5, 2009 3:31 PM,Well, I didnt leave to make cardboard boxes, but I did find a job at a place that makes cardboard boxes within a month after leaving S-T.
Seeing how my bring home pay doubled and my benefits are better, I think that making cardboard boxes just might not be a bad job...
I work with three other ex S-T'ers and know of others asking for jobs there. That just might tell ya something...
If you take a look at the economy and the airline industry, you will see why I'm not working on airplanes.
I hope that y'all know how to swim... Good luck to everyone thats left...
Heard that FW WEEKLY magazine is going to buy the star-telegram.Anyone else heard that?
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