By: E&P Staff The St. Petersburg Times has joined the ranks of many other papers announcing pay freezes and suspension of 401-1 matches. Other papers have also mandated unpaid furloughs, but not at the Times, yet.
A memo from Publisher Paul Tash went out to staffers today, first posted at the Romenesko site. Here it is.
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Last week, I wrote to you about our decision to offer Congressional Quarterly for sale. Today, I want to let you know about measures we are taking here in Florida to meet the challenges of the recession.
1. As much as it disappoints me, we need to extend the pay freeze for another year. As you recall, the freeze took effect on June 1, 2008, and we expected to lift it four months from now. Of course, the economy has gotten worse, not better. I regret the strain a wage freeze puts on staffers, and the 5 percent reduction in my own pay will remain in place for its duration.
2. Starting April 1, we will suspend company contributions to the 401K plan, and for members of the pension plan, we will freeze the credits for additional service. Let me emphasize: the benefits you have earned already under the pension plan are safe, but your service during this freeze will not count toward your pension payments.
3. Because of this action in the retirement plans, staffers who were eligible for the 5-plus-5 enhanced pension plan last year will get another chance to take it. We do not renew this offer to encourage more departures, or out of any legal obligation. Rather, eligible staffers can make a fresh decision in light of circumstances no one could anticipate last summer. The HR department will provide details soon.
This is a lot to absorb, especially combined with all the other news of general economic turmoil, and you may wonder what conclusions you should draw about the Times and your place in it. So, let me offer some thoughts that guide our thinking through this very rough stretch.
1. Eventually, the business climate in Tampa Bay will recover. When it does, the Times will be in a very strong position. Over 125 years, the patterns of history are clear.
2. Even now, we have enormous opportunity to serve our customers ? readers and advertisers. They are counting on us, and they will reward us.
3. Every day, the Times relies on talented and dedicated professionals who pull together on behalf of their company and in service to the Tampa Bay region. On hard days (and lately there have been a couple), your commitment stokes my confidence about our future.
We will get there together, and each day brings us a little closer.
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