By: Joe Strupp The Toledo Newspaper Guild plans to again ask The Blade of Toledo to seek other options before going forward with layoffs that could reach 60 people newspaper-wide, according to Guild President Lillian Covarrubias.
She said the union was advised earlier this week that layoffs were coming, but no specifics have been put forth. A meeting with newspaper officials is set for Friday.
"It has been rumored that given the revenue stream it could be 60 bodies," Covarrubias told E&P Thursday. "But we don't know for sure. I don't know how they can layoff any more people."
In an e-mail to union members, first posted by the Toledo Free Press site, Covarrubias stated: "The Guild will again ask the company to explore buyouts, and voluntary layoffs first instead of layoffs as a way of dealing with the company?s economics. We will continue to seek ?equity of sacrifice? on the company?s part.?
When some 20 newsroom staffers were laid off in December, the guild had asked for other options such as buyouts and furloughs, but none occurred. At that time, Covarrubias complained to E&P that the Blade's sister paper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, had offered buyouts.
Covarrubias said during Friday's meeting she plans to urge such options, as well as part-time employment and leaves of absence: "We will propose it."
Blade General Manager Joe Zerbey could not immediately be reached for comment.
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