Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sacramento Bee hiring pressmen -- updated

Help wanted at The Bee:

Position: Pressperson
Location: 2100 Q Street, Sacramento, CA ( Map it )
Employee Type: Full-Time Employee
Industry: Newspaper Printing - Publishing
Manages Others: No
Job Type: MarketingProfessional Services
Relocation Covered: No
Posted: 9/15/2008


Requirements: Ideal candidates will have at least 4 years’ experience with double wide offset lithographic perfecting press and knowledge of straight/collect cylinder plating, process color reproduction, folder operation knowledge and reelroom experience.

FYI, the salary isn't posted.

The Modesto Bee's print operations close September 28th; after that, the Modesto paper will be will be printed in Sacramento. Looks like not enough Modesto pressmen transferred to Sacramento.

I hope the Bee can hire some people to solve the Bee's ink problems.

Hat tip: to a reader via email

UPDATE: From comments:
Being a Pressman from Modesto (a Union shop), we were not given the opportunity to transfer to SacBee(a non-Union shop). We were told they would not need any help when the transfer of printing starts this coming weekend.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Sacramento Bee has many job announcements posted with no intention of filling those positions. The advertising department has had a sales manager job posted for awhile now.

There will be lots of pressmen from the Modesto Bee looking for work, but don't expect any of those former employees to get a transfer to 21st and Q streets.

Anonymous said...

Being a Pressman from Modesto (a Union shop), we were not given the opportunity to transfer to SacBee(a non-Union shop). We were told they would not need any help when the transfer of printing starts this coming weekend.It will be a tough week as we say good bye to alot of friends and see a great producing,high quailty press print for the last time.

Anonymous said...

To get the buyout you have to sign a paper that you can NEVER work for a McClatchy paper anywhere again. If you do you must pay your buyuout back. Like anybody would want to.

Anonymous said...

If the public new how McClatchy has just tossed aside their production crew at the Modesto Bee, they would probably cancel their subscriptions to the Modesto Bee and the Sacramento Bee. This has got to be the most cold hearted company on the face of the earth. To anyone left working for McClatchy...get ready for more cuts. The writing is on the wall!

Anonymous said...

I so agree if only the public knew. It's just not in California their doing it everywhere at their papers. How do you get this out to the everyday Joe. You can't they OWN THE NEWS.

Anonymous said...

If McClatchy changes the name of the paper from The Modesto Bee to something else, If I read the contract correctly, they can begin printing at a location inside the 50 mile demarcation border (Merced?). Right now they have to print the Modesto Bee outside a 50 mile perimeter. If I read the contract correctly one can apply for a position in Sacramento but it will be as a new hire and not a transfer. But do you think they will hire union pressmen? We were originally told "There will be no positions open in Sacramento for you." They are a bunch of union busters! It will be a sad farewell Saturday! Even if you are not working that shift, show up anyway!

Anonymous said...

The contract we had to sign said we could NOT work anywhere in the WORLD for a McClatchy paper or anything they had a interest in. You better recheck yours. A friend of mine said that would necer stand up in court.

Anonymous said...

Being a former pressmans union member I can personally say that unions as we once knew them are NO MORE! It is now nothing more then a scam to collect dues and facilitate the lifestyles of the folks that run the unions. Where was your union in Modesto? Where is the same union going to be in SF when the Chronicle turns over its printing to a Canadian company? I'll tell you where, they will be out making speeches and telling the few members they have left that they will not allow their jobs to be lost. All while making much more then any of their members could ever make and with a much better future and retirement then the members could ever hope for. Wake up people! The contract and wages you have/had are unrealistic and certainly the reason why your jobs were always going be in jeopardy! They rewarded incompetence and ignored the skills of the pressman that is truly good at every part of the job. In union newspaper shops today all the pressman make the same even though more then half of them cannot run the folder successfully or do process color. In truth, most are reeltenders that because of the union mentality make as much as the folks that are actually using skill to get the paper printed. The SF union, local 4, is the worst. Arrogant, self centered egotistical goofs that care much more about maintaining the unrealistic working conditions & perks then the quality of the paper they print. I know of at least 3 people in Modesto that were absolutely worthless doing press work and bounced around shop to shop because of it. They made as much as the guys that are good pressman, the ones that did most of the work! Unions have become more of "what can you do for me" rather then caring about the work they do. I realize that big newspaper companies are out for themselves also, bit I would rather be compensated for what I know and do then because I belong to a union. Once again where is your union now? Are they looking for employment for you or helping you with your situation? Did your rep show up that last night to show support for you? Perhaps in the 40's & 50's the pressmans union was really for the pressman and worked to his advantage. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Think of all the dues those of you in Modesto paid over the years and what you have to show for that money. At least McClatchy gave you a severance package for your service, did the union?