More Furloughs at Gannett

To: USCP employees
From: Bob Dickey
Subject: Furloughs
 
 
We continue to battle very difficult economic headwinds causing consumers and advertisers to remain cautious, resulting in further revenue declines.

This will require our division to implement a second round of furloughs in the coming months.  Furloughs again will be required for all US Community Publishing employees in the second quarter ­ April, May and June ­ but we will approach the program differently than in the first quarter.
 
Your current pay level will determine the length of your furlough.  USCP employees at the operating units earning $90,000 and above will furlough for two weeks during the quarter.  USCP employees at corporate headquarters earning $90,000 and above will take one week of unpaid leave and also will have a temporary pay reduction of the equivalent of one week¹s pay. That reduction will be spread equally over the three month period.  All other USCP employees will be on the same program as last quarter and furlough for one week.  Your level of pay is based on your salary or hourly wage.
Commissions, bonuses and overtime earnings are not part of the calculation.
Your supervisor will provide the specific details.
 
Everyone¹s participation in the furlough will enable us to minimize the need for additional layoffs during the quarter. The vast majority of our employees fall within the salary ranges that require a furlough of five days
during the quarter.   We are asking for a larger contribution from some of
our employees.  I believe these employees will embrace and support this change.  We will once again ask employees covered by a bargaining agreement to participate in lieu of layoffs.  We are hopeful union leadership will once again support this approach.
 
In addition to the furloughs, we will institute a wage and salary freeze effective April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010.
 
I know these measures are especially difficult as everyone juggles busy workloads and a more difficult economy, however they are critical to our company as we manage through this historic downturn.
 
Even in the face of these immediate economic challenges, we are aggressively pursuing a variety of projects and programs that will improve efficiency and enhance our sales and marketing efforts in the long term.  Our goal for when the economy improves is to strengthen our position as a news and information company that will enable us to invest in our local properties for sustained long-term growth.  You will receive more details on these initiatives in the coming weeks.
I understand the importance of strong local journalism and remain committed to that mission despite the pressure of the current economy. Again, I wish to thank all of you for your hard work and patience. We have managed the current furlough with minimal issues thanks to your commitment and professionalism. With that same spirit we will manage through the second quarter also.
 
Please remain open minded to new approaches and share with me any ideas or thoughts you have on improving U.S. Community Publishing.  I ask that you continue to keep faith in our industry and support your colleagues as we work through these economic challenges.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Bob Dickey

Comments

[Shooter McGaving]

Always wondered who was making the big dollars on the 9th floor. I look forward to seeing who’s out for two weeks. This will be a moral booster in the newsroom.

[Shooter McGaving]

Always wondered who was making the big dollars on the 9th floor. I look forward to seeing who’s out for two weeks. This will be a moral booster in the newsroom.

[Peeves]

Shooter has a well-aimed point. Perhaps the AzCentral's "Data Central" now will list the salaries of top AZ Gannett managers like they do for county and state governments and the universities? This would be a valuable service for the angry mobs of readers who wonder why the Republic won't deliver the paper to them cause they live in far away places like Casa Grande.

[muckracker]

"Thank you sir, May I have another?"

[TS]

Um, if you're trying to identify who's making $90,000+ based on whether they take one or two furlough weeks this quarter, how would you tell the difference between someone taking one furlough week plus one paid vacation week?

[Matt]

They should just fire the employees making over 90k a year. Few if any of them are critical to actually printing the paper on a daily basis and some are probably culpable in the decline of the paper.

If I were working there I'd seriously be pounding the pavement looking for another job, in a diffent field, before the bottom completely falls out.

[Kelli]

Peeves wrote: "Perhaps the AzCentral's "Data Central" now will list the salaries of top AZ Gannett managers like they do for county and state governments and the universities?"
The difference between disclosing salaries of county, state and university employees and those of private business (like newspapers) is that one is paid by tax payers and is public record. The other is frankly none of your business.

[Steve F.]

" The other is frankly none of your business."

Given that we taxpayers may be required to bail out the newspapers next, soon it will be very much our business to know what everyone in the newsrooms make...

[Steve F.]

"I believe these employees will embrace and support this change."

Gee, where have I heard that before?

Maybe Hopey McChange himself will reassure them via the glow of his magic teleprompter!