By: Joel Davis Early Retirement Offered, Job Eliminations Might Follow
Citing the slow economy and falling revenue, the Tribune Co.
announced Thursday that it is eliminating jobs through what it
says will mostly be voluntary retirement. But, in a memo, Tribune
Co. CEO John Madigan added that "several Tribune business units
will also eliminate a number of positions."
While the focus is on early retirement, Los Angeles Times
spokesman David Garcia told E&P that, within certain
departments, "There may be reorganizations that will result in
job eliminations."
Los Angeles Times Publisher John Puerner, in a memo to
employees on Thursday, explained that, despite recent cutbacks,
"we need to take additional steps to address the economic
realities we face....Wherever possible, we will attempt to make
staffing reductions voluntary through the VRP [voluntary
retirement program] and we will implement changes in a manner
that is fair to our employees and preserves the quality of our
journalism and the integrity of our operations."
Madigan noted that the Tribune Co.'s first quarter revenues were
down and the second quarter so far had shown no sign of any
change in this trend. He said that the VRP will be open to
employees who are at least 50 years old "and who meet certain
other eligibility requirements." Those employees would be
notified "starting today," he added. He said that Tribune hopes
to achieve "the majority" of staff reductions through the
program.
Joel Davis (jdavis@editorandpublisher.com) is West Coast editor for E&P.
Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.
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