Poynter: Philly Inquirer & Daily News to reduce newsroom by 37

[Baron Scicluna]

They knew they had these union contracts when they bought the papers. They knew what they were getting into.

I say, let them sell.

That's easy to say but there are thousands of lives that would be affected by such a sell off. Yes, they knew what they were getting into when they purchased the papers, but they were hoping to find a different solution, I believe. The situation with Hostess showed them a way out of their financial bind.

Those thousands of lives are already being affected, and those owners are collecting the big bucks to find the different solution.

Open the books, let the union look at them, and if they are as bad as the the owners say they are, then the union should be prepared to make concessions. And if they don't, then it's on them.

But to do that, the owners need to establish some trust and show their workers the books.

That's the problem Baron. The owners aren't opening the books.

Which is why the union should call their bluff.

The owners just bought the papers. Either they bought them already planning to shut them down, or bought them planning on trying to screw the union over. Or both. Either way, the union doesn't win by it.

If they are truly telling the truth about how poorly the papers are doing, then they wouldn't have a problem showing the books to the union. By refusing, it looks like they're just lying to the union.

 

[Drip]

They knew they had these union contracts when they bought the papers. They knew what they were getting into.

I say, let them sell.

That's easy to say but there are thousands of lives that would be affected by such a sell off. Yes, they knew what they were getting into when they purchased the papers, but they were hoping to find a different solution, I believe. The situation with Hostess showed them a way out of their financial bind.

Those thousands of lives are already being affected, and those owners are collecting the big bucks to find the different solution.

Open the books, let the union look at them, and if they are as bad as the the owners say they are, then the union should be prepared to make concessions. And if they don't, then it's on them.

But to do that, the owners need to establish some trust and show their workers the books.

That's the problem Baron. The owners aren't opening the books.

Which is why the union should call their bluff.

The owners just bought the papers. Either they bought them already planning to shut them down, or bought them planning on trying to screw the union over. Or both. Either way, the union doesn't win by it.

If they are truly telling the truth about how poorly the papers are doing, then they wouldn't have a problem showing the books to the union. By refusing, it looks like they're just lying to the union.

Lots of lies Baron. And to be honest, I'm not exactly sold that the Guild has been totally honest. Plenty of political spinning going around on both sides.

 

[Drip]

Here's a kick in the groin, Guild presiden Dan Gross took a buyout. Ugggh!!!!!
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20130117_Philadelphia_Daily_News_staffer_quits_as_Newspaper_Guild_president.html

 

[Drip]

More news. The guild will bargain with parent company.
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20130117_Newspaper_Guild_agrees_to_early_talks_on_contract.html

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Sucks for those employees. First thing union should demand is to see the books. If the contract needs to be negotiated nine months early, then the company either must be on shaky ground to begin with or the new owners are just total assholes who want to steal every penny they can get.

 

[Drip]

Sucks for those employees. First thing union should demand is to see the books. If the contract needs to be negotiated nine months early, then the company either must be on shaky ground to begin with or the new owners are just total assholes who want to steal every penny they can get.

Baron, it's a FUBAR situation on many levels. The truth is that the Guild doesn't have the power it once had. There's no bargaining leverage and with Gross stepping down and out, to say that morale is at low is an understatement. Yet every Guild post ends with "Yours in Solidarity." Should change that to "Yours in diarrhea."

 

[Joe Williams]

Sucks for those employees. First thing union should demand is to see the books. If the contract needs to be negotiated nine months early, then the company either must be on shaky ground to begin with or the new owners are just total assholes who want to steal every penny they can get.

Baron, it's a FUBAR situation on many levels. The truth is that the Guild doesn't have the power it once had. There's no bargaining leverage and with Gross stepping down and out, to say that morale is at low is an understatement. Yet every Guild post ends with "Yours in Solidarity." Should change that to "Yours in diarrhea."

Bakers union sure showed 'em at Hostess. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Sucks for those employees. First thing union should demand is to see the books. If the contract needs to be negotiated nine months early, then the company either must be on shaky ground to begin with or the new owners are just total assholes who want to steal every penny they can get.

Baron, it's a FUBAR situation on many levels. The truth is that the Guild doesn't have the power it once had. There's no bargaining leverage and with Gross stepping down and out, to say that morale is at low is an understatement. Yet every Guild post ends with "Yours in Solidarity." Should change that to "Yours in diarrhea."

Bakers union sure showed 'em at Hostess. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

They would have lost even if they had folded them Hostess wanted them to take about 35 percent paycut, which would have left them at around $11 an hour. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's better than nothing. At that rate, the bakers might as well find a different career anyways.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/18/1162786/-Inside-the-Hostess-Bankery

The ship is already sinking, why bother wasting the last few moments of your life helping the executives into the lifeboats?