Thursday, February 12, 2009

A Gary Pruitt speech today -- updated

From comments:
Today Gary P. addresses the corporate employees in the annual "state of the union" speech. That oughta be interesting.
UPDATE: apparently Pruitt's talk wasn't inspiring:
Well, it wasn't so much a speech as a presentation, and it wasn't so much interesting as depressing. Financial facts and an attempt to address morale issues and rally the faithful. Not sure if anyone was buying.
.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can we get it posted here. Ha

Anonymous said...

Sure, it's a liberals wet dream.

"You won't have gary pruitt to kick around anymore"

Anonymous said...

I heard the employees have to remove their shoes before attending 'The talk.'

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:39 Very funny!

Anonymous said...

..Shouldn't that be his " State of the Hives " speech ?

Anonymous said...

Beelieving anything the Queen Bee says is dangerous to the livelihood of the worker bees. The BOD-drones have taken over the hive.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if any of the papers are contesting unemployment insurance benefits to workers who did not receive a buy out or severance package? I'm asking because I'm relying on my measly $165 a week.

Please ask around.
Thanks a bunch!

Anonymous said...

I' m kinda missing Archer05.

Anonymous said...

I'm asking because I'm relying on my measly $165 a week.
**

It is even measlier after taxes.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Archer05 is at Gary's speech. Please report back.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 12:46 said...

"Does anyone know if any of the papers are contesting unemployment insurance benefits to workers who did not receive a buy out or severance package?"



I'm curious to know this as well. I was "terminated" two weeks ago. I could see that the newspaper I was from had been gearing up for the bloodshed that's about to happen because there were many sudden terminations the first three weeks of January. It used to average 1 or 2 terminations every month at the very most but there were at least 10 throughout January alone before I got called into HR to learn my fate, a fate that didn't include any kind of severance or accrued paid time off. In my opinion, it was their way of getting rid of people without having to pay as many severance packages. Being that I was an at-will employee, I don't think I have any legal avenues either. I can only just sit here and pray that I'll be approved for unemployment benefits to hold me over until I can find an employer that's not as disgusting and ruthless as this sorry excuse for one.

Anonymous said...

Well, it wasn't so much a speech as a presentation, and it wasn't so much interesting as depressing.
Financial facts and an attempt to address morale issues and rally the faithful. Not sure if anyone was buying.

Anonymous said...

"At Will" employee there is your answer.

For everybody who has unemployment benefit questions-ONLY your State Unemployment office can answer your questions. You need to call them or go in. Each state is different and each employee employment can be different. There is not one size fits all.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. So now MNI has sunken so low below the scum it already is as to laying off by means of firing employees? Can anyone tell us if this is a pattern that's occurring at other MNI papers? And yes I would say you do have a legal avenue. If this is a pattern at other papers, you have an even bigger legal avenue and with more people teaming with you.

Anonymous said...

With regards to unemployment benefits, I know that it's a state issue. I was just wondering if anyone at ANY of the MNI papers has had their unemployment benefits contested by their former newspaper.

I'm interested in finding out if all the papers have or have not agreed to contesting uemployment claims. I just want to be prepared if I will have a fight on my hands.

Thanks in advance for any information anyone can pass on!

Anonymous said...

Or if McClatchy big wigs have told all the publishers to fight unemployment claims because their unemployment tax rate will increase with each claim that is paid out.

Anonymous said...

1:21 I feel for the guy and I hate McClatchy but the guy was an "At- Will" employee. Also, as far as legal issues every paper has offered a buyout package in the past. That my friend is their saving grace.

We might not like it but we all work at the company's pleasure. Just ask the 3 million people that have lost their jobs through out the country. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

My McClatchy paper has not offered any buyouts so far, and has not done any layoffs.

Anonymous said...

1:51 What paper do you work for?

Anonymous said...

I have been checking on MNI and their ‘dealings with employees’ history. This is an article from 2006, the time of the fateful KR purchase.

The union rep says: “The Bee papers… by calling some reporters ‘senior writers,’ avoid paying them overtime.”
It is interesting in that if there was a PLAN to dismantle unions...? Surely Not?
--------------
-McClatchy and the unions
Most of the Knight Ridder dailies McClatchy is selling off are union papers-
By Chrisanne Beckner

McClatchy’s had a long and tumultuous history with unions, so perhaps it’s not surprising that of the 12 major Knight Ridder papers that McClatchy is selling off, nine have contracts with media unions. Of those McClatchy kept, only one was union represented, and its contract only covered the editorial staff, said Linda Foley, president of the Newspaper Guild, a union covering more than 34,000 members of the media in the United States and beyond.
“They’re not keeping the ones with strong unions,” said Foley.

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=56991

Anonymous said...

Yeah, what 1:51 said. My newspaper didn't offer a buy out to me nor has it laid anyone off either. When I say layoff, I'm talking the respectable way with severance. Effective last month, I'm also on the unemployment line. A "termination" as they called it. Anyone else seeing a pattern here? Current employees, be afraid. Be VERY afraid!

Anonymous said...

Mass layoff means 33% of workforce

The WARN Act generally applies to employers with 100 or more employees (excluding employees who have worked for less than six months and those who work less than 20 hours per week). A “mass layoff” is defined as a layoff which results in the [loss of at least 33%] of the employee workforce.

Anonymous said...

7:07 I don't know where you get your data.

Jan.01,2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. Defines a mass layoff as an action that involves at least 50 persons from a single employer.

Anonymous said...

My beat was eliminated in September, and the paper did not contest my request for benefits.

Anonymous said...

1:31 you nead to read 1:18 the Dude explained it very well. Can't be any plainer.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8:15 said:

"My beat was eliminated in September, and the paper did not contest my request for benefits."

Yes, but did you get a severance package? That's the concern of those of us still barely employed here.

I don't think the company has a right to contest unemployment benefits for a layoff. For a termination from what I know they are able to contest.

I think that's the worry here since it appears MI is resorting to firing people so that they won't have to give severance and then can contest unemployment benefits.

Anonymous said...

6:50 You have no idea what McClatchy will do. You just spill fear. 1:18 explained the process. READ!

Anonymous said...

1:18 explained nothing and I suspect he is you. As far as not knowing what McClatchy will do, everyone here but you has the ability to see exactly what it is that they are doing. It isn't hard for anyone other than a McClatchy cheerleader.

Anonymous said...

Well tell me 9:15 give me detailed facts. You have none! You have NO numbers. NO department numbers. NO wage information. Actually you have NO facts at all.

Anonymous said...

You can always tell when you're chatting with a McClatchy tool. For them, until they issue an admission it can't possibly be true.

It doesn't take a genius to see the pattern anymore than it takes one to know that you are a McClatchy shill. I hope they fire you...last.

Anonymous said...

11:05 No facts Man. Guess your can't read either. As far as being fired? I was smart enough to take a buyout. Yea, almost a years salary sitting in my bank while you sit, squirm and beg.

Anonymous said...

1:18 spelled it out...CALL the EDD (Employment Development Dept.) and be prepared to have the number on speed dial.
My $.02 ...If you get "Welcome to the Blah Blah Blah..." THEN HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE ANNOUCEMENT ON WHICH BUTTON TO PUSH NEXT. If you get "Thank You for calling the Blah Blah Blah" Listen to the message the first time, then hang up and hit the speed dial. You will realize the "Thank You" message means you haven't gotten through (at least in the California EDD). Keep a note pad and write the order of buttons you pushed so next time it will be even faster! Also keep the note pad handy and once you do get through write down ALL names and badge numbers for future reference and any information they give you. Speed dial really helps! Call early first thing in the AM and plan on being on the phone an hour or more 'cause with over 3 million unemployed it can take a while. (Might be a good idea to have lunch already prepared and fire up the solitaire game on the computer (think I'm joking?!?)) At least at our office in Modesto Ca. the staff behind the desk at the EDD office can not help you...they don't know diddly (Bo or squat), and will tell you to get in the phone line...AND WAIT!!! Next find out what type of help they have in finding you a job! We have the Alliance WorkNet that will help you put together a resume, give you leads etc. Your case worker can find out about other benefits and above all READ ANY literature they give you. In Calif. the small print says that you have up to 16 weeks to get into a retraining program and if you get into a retraining program, you have to call EDD (remember your speed dial) and tell them and you will get an automatic extension and MORE letters and brochures telling you what to do next and when you will have an over the phone interview and when they will call you. Get a good case worker and hopefully everything will work out. You might want to call the EDD BEFORE you get your "transition package", or pink slip and see what you need to do. I hope this helped some. VERY IMPORTANT...keep ALL documentation that the company gives you concerning your termination.

Anonymous said...

At the end of Scary Gary's speech did he close with a song...Maybe "Dust in the Wind"?

Anonymous said...

6:14 Sounds like a CA thing no wonder your state and paper is in so much trouble.