A reader hears working conditions are grim at the Modesto Bee.Just talked to an employee that is still working at the Modesto paper. She HAS to work a little while longer (for the benefits). She said the conditions are terrible as EVERYONE has to do the jobs of two, three or more people. No raises or extra compensation for the extra work, 401k matching have stopped, and it appears the higher ups are just grasping at straws to maintain some semblance of sanity and stability. The employees are still friendly and courteous to customers and each other but it is like a really big really dark cloud hanging over their heads.
The Modesto Bee building has been bought by Modesto Junior college and needed office space will be leased back to the Bee. No one knows what is going to happen to the printing press. I'm glad I'm gone from that place.
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18 comments:
If you read some of the comments under yesterday's post: Former McClatchy employe- "it's time to fire Gary Pruitt" you will find many comments that corroborate this topic as well as Eric Johnston's lame attempt to tell everyone everything's going to be A-OK.
Where did you get that picture? It looks like some vintage sweat shop
OH NO! NO! NO! DO NOT FIRE THE TOOL PRUITT! The enamored board of directors deserves this megalomanic in their lives. I heard the older-than-ink publisher of the fresno bee, ray steele, elaborate for more than two minutes, in front of a large meeting of news and ad people, on what great looking man he was. Such a "trim physique" if i remember correctly? anybody else recall that one? All mgmt have a hard-on for this confirmed letch so let `em have dick. The sad truth is that the real journalists (not those purchased journalism degrees by inbred mcclatchy heirs) are paying with their lives for his deeds.
How sad that conditions have gotten this bad. The entire community knows what's going on in spite of Eric Johnston's desperate attempts at a cover up. So, he can spew all the hope & faith BS that he wants, just like Pruitt, but no one's buyin it. Just like the iitter box liner he's peddeling, no one's buyin it. I wouldn't even use the Bee in my cat box cuz I wouldn't want my cat to get ink on its butt and paws. Honestly, I don't know how mgnt can look in the mirror after carrying out all the dastardly deeds mandated by corporate. At some point it seems more logical to cut your losses and get out.
It is so sad and pathetic to read about the Modesto Bees work conditions. I knew that it would eventually come down to this.
I was so glad to be let go in the last round of layoffs in March.
I just feel sorry for the remaining friends that I have left working at the Modesto Bee sweat shop.
Does management even have a damn clue what there doing to the employees. Moral at the bee has been shit for 2 years.
Those buffoons in corporate IT are just as worse up there.
Here is a warning to those in Modesto. All those who postpone leaving for the sake of a few months more of pay will be very sorry. Do not trust anything Management tells you. They will promise that if you stay things will get better. Trust me, it does not.
Take it from one of your brethren at the Sac Bee. Those in the first group of lay offs got much better packages than those let got last. Those of us left behind are doing the work of four and regretting not taking the buy outs. We are now trapped. If we quit we get nothing and we don't even qualify for unemployment.
Modesto,Good Luck.
1:54's comment intrigues me. "IT buffoons" sounds systemic.
So ... the situation at Modesto is just like the situation at every other McClatchy paper?
To 2:59 ... Some of us TRIED to take the buyout the first time it was offered but got rejected and now are stuck making less money than before and doing even more work. I have no doubt that when it all goes up in flames, there won't be any buyouts for those of who are left.
Globe's largest union rejects concessions
The Boston Globe's largest union tonight narrowly rejected $10 million in wage and benefit cuts, and the paper's owner prepared to quickly impose a 23 percent pay cut on the union's members.
Such a move by the New York Times Co., will almost certainly move the bitter contract dispute from the bargaining table to the National Labor Relations Board and federal courts. The Boston Newspaper Guild, which represents more than 600 editorial, advertising and business office workers, has said it would challenge such a move and seek a court order known as an injunction to block the Times Co. from imposing the pay cut.
Does anyone think that any McClatchy exec, at the corporate or local level, cares about morale of the hardworking employees? Get serious; their only concern is to ride the exec gravy train as long as possible while pocketing their inflated salaries, cutting ours and throwing more people off the train. It's long past time for Pru to resign, but a man without honor and a feckless board keep undermining the health of the company.
Does anyone on here happen to think that this is not just the newspaper business?
Many other businesses are struggling as well.
I think we all just need to be thankful to have a job and be able to provide for our families.
This too shall pass.
Similar situations are not just at the newspaper. You will find situations almost identical to the Bee's at any company where upper management thinks they know what is best for all under them. Cuts should have started at the top not the bottom where all the work is done. But of course the decision making, salary cuts, who gets canned, etc. are made by those VIP's at the top of the chain. You know .. the ones that give themselves pats on the back and bonuses at the end of year.
4:46 ... I would have been more thankful to have gotten a buyout nine months ago and changed professions. Doing more work for less pay and needing to find a second job to make up for it isn't much to be thankful for.
Modesto... FYI.
The Sac Bee offered buyouts to ALL... so many applied that they had to regect those they deemed needed and then these people where no longer useful they where let go with lesser or no severace packages.
To: GayPaperBoy and Anon. 9:15 am
WAKE UP YOU BRAINWASHED MORONS! We KNOW other businesses are struggling and many folks from every walk of life have been affected and/or laid off from their companies--however, NOT THE POINT. This is McClatchy Watch--this blog addresses all issues pertaining to and I quote (from the home page) "This blog is mainly about the spectacular train wreck at The Sacramento Bee and its parent company, the McClatchy Company."
And what's with the laissez-faire attitude "this too shall pass"? Are you kidding me? Over 4,000 people have been laid off by McClatchy this past year and more is yet to come. Brussel sprouts have more brains than you. Apparently you both enjoy the taste of Kool Aid. Drink up!
GAPaper Boy
Dork! Thankful for what job? Speak for yourself, don't you get that most on this blog ARE NOT WORKING! And, if they are still working at McClatchy, probably have bleeding ulcers at this point so they need to stay on for the insurance. Save your profound statements for your pals at the next Tony Robbins Ultimate Edge Motivational Seminar.
Aggravating.
Sorry to cast a pall on your joyous celebration, but I am thankful to still be working in Modesto, and I still enjoy my job despite the extra work thrown my direction. I mourn what's happened to the newspaper business, but I still have a great job. I planned ahead, saving money over the years to be in a position to withstand the tough times that occur in every life. To those who feel sorry for the remaining people still working for the Modesto Bee...your pity is better spent on the unemployed.
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