No Layoffs at Baltimore 'Sun' After Buyout Proves Successful

By: Joe Strupp The Sun in Baltimore will not have to resort to layoffs, at least in the near future, because enough employees have agreed to take a buyout offer that was set to end Friday, a Sun spokeswoman told E&P.

"As of this morning, it appears we have gotten enough people to take the voluntary buyout that we will not be looking at layoffs at this point," said Linda Geeson, Sun director of marketing and communications. "We do not wish to give a specific number because people still have until the end of the day to take it, but it is at a level we are comfortable with."

Sun management initiated the buyout offer on June 7 as part of an overall plan by The Tribune Co. to cut up to 200 jobs across many of its papers, with a buyout offer also instituted at the Los Angeles Times. The Times earlier this week reported that it cut 190 jobs at its various publications, including 160 at the paper.

The Times also gave voluntary buyouts to 42 news staff members, while also laying off another 20 newsroom employees.

The Sun buyout option offered one week's pay for every six months of employment, up to a year of salary, for each employee who chose to leave, according to Michael Hill, unit chair of the Washington Baltimore Newspaper Guild.

Although management declined to say how many buyouts they were seeking, union officials said the paper was looking for at least 18 takers for the offer, Hill said. Employees had until today to decide if they wanted the buyout, and may still take it through 5 p.m.

"We are obviously glad there are not going to be layoffs and that people had a choice, but it is sad that there are going to be a number of empty desks in the newsroom," Hill said, adding that employees will have three days to change their minds after taking the buyout offer. "This is not good for journalism in Baltimore."

Guild leaders and Sun management were in a dispute weeks ago over the buyout offer, which union leaders claimed was unfair because it did not give employees the required 45 days to change their minds after taking the offer and waiving their right to sue. The two sides resolved the dispute when the union chose to allow individual employees to waive their rights to sue, but the union as a whole would not support the action.

Hill also said that provisions were instituted into the buyout plan that protected older workers and those with greater seniority.

But other changes, including a 4% reduction in newshole and, according to some workers, more workload for employees who will remain and have to work more weekend rotations, have lowered morale.

The buyouts also follow a tumultuous 12 months at the paper, which included a bitter contract battle last summer that nearly ended in a strike, and the January firing of longtime editor William Marimow.

Geeson believed that the lack of layoffs would make the reduction easier to take and allow the newsroom to focus on news. "People are satisfied that this is the way to do it because we were able to do it voluntarily," she said.