BALTIMORE, MD (November 14, 2008) – Only four months after using buy-outs and firings to cut 100 jobs from The Baltimore Sun, including 60 newsroom positions, the Tribune Co. is planning more cuts, the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild says.
Only this time employees will not be offered buy-outs, the Guild said, just layoffs that could start any day and will impact all departments, including the newsroom again.
Neither the Sun's managers or anyone from Tribune would tell the Guild how many employees will lose their jobs in this round of cuts. The Guild represents about 400 Sun employees.
"Saving money, not jobs, is management's ultimate goal," Guild executive director Cet Parks said. The number of employees at the newspaper who are represented by the Guild has been cut by 50 percent since the Tribune took over in 2000.
Tribune Co. posted a $124 million third quarter loss this week.
"Tribune's dangerous business strategy has saddled the newspaper with billions of dollars in debt and now employees in Baltimore are bearing the brunt of these decisions," Parks said. "The Sun is a significant employer, but it is quickly being diminished by a thoughtless group in Chicago that cares little about the Baltimore community."
In 2008, 45 employees took buy-outs in March and June, then 100 employees left in July through buy-outs and firings. Departing Guild members included photographers, repoters, columnists, copy editors, designers, advertising staff, sales, customer assistance staff, and production and I.T. staff.
Ironically, one of today's top Sun headlines says, "Financial Picture Grows Darker".
