More than 40 people at the Inquirer, Daily News and
Philly.com will lose their jobs this December.
Philadelphia Media Network, the owner of the two
newspapers and the companion website, informed the Newspaper Guild Local 10
that 46 of its members will be laid off effective Dec. 4, according to a Guild
memo.
The layoffs, which will affect more than 10 percent of
the total 438 union members, are part of a plan to save the company several
million dollars by merging three newsrooms into one – a decision Publisher
Terry Egger announced Friday in his first meeting with staff since he began in
the job about a month ago.
The Guild requested to meet with PMN Monday, but the
company refused and instead asked to meet with union leadership Wednesday
morning "so everyone can be left hanging for an astonishing two additional
days," the union memo said.
A PMN spokeswoman declined to comment about the layoffs
and the Guild memo Monday, although on Friday a company statement said the
newsroom merger and job cuts were necessary to reduce expenses.
Egger said Friday PMN has lost $90 million in advertising
revenue since 2011.
Howard Gensler, a Daily News columnist and the president
of the Local 10, expressed disappointment Friday, saying it is unclear why the
economic conditions were not disclosed in recent contract negotiations.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
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