Monday, December 7, 2009

Star-Telegram to reinstate merit increases January 1

Here is the email sent to employees today by Star-Telegram publisher Gary Wortel:

December 7, 2010

To: All Employees
Re: Lifting of Wage Freeze

I am sure by now you have had the opportunity to read Gary Pruitt’s message about the company lifting the wage freeze for 2010.

The Star-Telegram will be reinstating merit increases on January 1, 2010. Salary review dates will be adjusted forward four months. Ex: a) Your last merit increase date was September 1st. The new date will be January 1st. b) Your last merit increase date was March 1st. The new date will be July 1st. Although we continue to experience a challenging revenue environment and we’ll need to remain diligent in managing expenses, we believe it’s important to lift this wage freeze -- especially during this difficult economic climate. The Star-Telegram could not be successful without you.

Thanks,
Gary


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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess Gary W got his raise already since a new BMW was parked in his spot.

Anonymous said...

I'm no longer at the ST but I am glad this is happening. The employees deserve it and I'm happy for them.

Anonymous said...

New BMW my ass. Stop making crap up. It serves no purpose. Let's stick with the facts.

Anonymous said...

Let them .5 percent pay raises begin!

Anonymous said...

To 6:06: That's right it wasn't a BMW, it was a Benz convertible. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

6:08PM - You are a liar. Plain and simple. Sad sack of crud that you are.

Anonymous said...

Wage increase while still laying off staff. That is going to fly real well.

Anonymous said...

If it is really based on merit it is not going to cost them much.

Anonymous said...

If it's based on merit it isn't going to cost them a dime.

Anonymous said...

This is nothing but a shell game.
The company cuts pay by X percent one year, then reinstates "raises" the next year by the same or even less. This is just another way of freezing pay at the pre-salary cut levels, or even less.
If the company truly wanted to reinstate raises, it would first restore salaries and benefits like the 401(k) match and pension funding to what they were before the pay cuts, then add on merit increases.
The S-T has been paying below-market wages for years while being a cash cow and the most profitable paper for Knight Ridder and then McClatchy.
The Dallas Morning News salaries were about 25% higher than the S-T's even before the McClatchy cuts.
McClatchy cut the average worker's pay and benefits package by about $5,000 a year. Many S-T employees haven't had any raise in more than 2 years and because of the pay cut are making less than they were three years ago.
Raises, even during the good times, did not even keep up with the cost of living increases and were typically in the range of 1-3 percent. Under the last few years of Knight Ridder we had pay freezes of 1 month, 3 months and 6 months.
As for Gary's ride: Yes, it's true. A few weeks ago he got himself a new $50,000 BMW SUV to replace the 3-year "old" one.
Now Gary's willing to throw a few crumbs off his banquet table to the workers who generate his wealth and the S-T's $50 million a year in profit. Thank you, sir. May I have more porridge please?

Anonymous said...

6:06 - say you are sorry!

Anonymous said...

C Bailey is the only one of us who will get raise, although he will have to take his nose out of Witt's ass to sign the paper.

Anonymous said...

5:11

HARSH - but as a current worker still at the FWST - it is true.

Anonymous said...

I think Barry Shlachter should get a raise for his award winning journalism on making fun of peoples' funerals.

Anonymous said...

6:57 I wonder how Barry Shlachter's book on Chile is doing at Amazon.

Anonymous said...

Why does Pete still have a job? And someone please remind me what he does.

Anonymous said...

Pete still has a job because he's married to the deputy ME.
This is what he does:
A) Walks around the hallways with his hands in his pockets.
B) Frequently leaves the building for coffee breaks and long lunches.
C) Most importantly, thinks of ways to dump any work duties on other people so that he can do more of A and B.

Anonymous said...

get rid of James Riddle and T.c and we can save money.