The hits keep coming from Gannett in Indy

[Matt1735]

From the website of the Indianapolis Newspaper Guild:

http://einkling.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/gannett-puts-15-pay-cut-on-the-table/

The Indianapolis News Guild is sad to inform you that Gannett is now seeking to cut the pay of newsroom and building services employees by 15 percent. The lawyer for the company provided us with a one-page “supplemental” proposal this afternoon that he said would implement this uniform salary reduction either 1) at the time we reach a new contract with the company, or 2) at the time both sides reach an impasse and cease talks.

 

[DanOregon]

So someone making $40K would see their pay cut to $34,000. That's great. I'm sure there won't be any increases in the health care right? Only Gannett could make Singleton look generous.

 

[luckyducky]

Geez ...

 

[ColbertNation]

That's borderline criminal.

 

[RickStain]

Supply, demand.

They've seen what most journalists are willing to put up with, and they know that for those of us who won't put up with it, there's two layoffees and three college kids waiting for a shot at our job.

 

[silentbob]

Cut 15 percent of its total payroll or cut each person's salary by 15 percent?

 

[kleeda]

I wish RickStain wasn't so dead-on.

 

[lone star scribe]

They are just stealing our money.

 

[GlenQuagmire]

OK, so make everyone take a 15 percent pay cut? >:(

Instead of continuing to ask the people who put together the product to take the biggest cuts, how about ELIMINATING all bonuses to executives?

How about requiring them to take bigger cuts to their base pay since they're making A LOT more than the rest of us?

How about having realistic expectations when it comes to offering decent salaries/pay to your employees?

How about more responsible spending instead of buying up a bunch of newspapers and getting into incredible debt just because you can?

Sadly, those things should have taken place 10 years ago. I don't see it happening anytime soon. All of our days are numbered in this business.

 

[RickStain]

OK, so make everyone take a 15 percent pay cut?

Instead of continuing to ask the people who put together the product to take the biggest cuts, how about ELIMINATING all bonuses to executives?

How about requiring them to take bigger paycuts since they're making A LOT more than the rest of us?

It costs $300k to find a guy who says "Hey, if we lay off 10 reporters, we'll have $330k more profits!".

 

[mustangj17]

Which Gannett paper will be the next to do this?

How many months until we have to rename this site formersportsjournalists.com?

 

[DanOregon]

I don't see why the union would agree to this - your option is not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage, or not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage while working your ass off.

 

[RickStain]

I don't see why the union would agree to this - your option is not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage, or not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage while working your ass off.

Same reason some people work unpaid overtime, rearrange their lives for furlough days, accept tinier and tinier salaries: Because they "love the business" or something.

 

[Some Guy]

I don't see why the union would agree to this - your option is not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage, or not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage while working your ass off.

Same reason some people work unpaid overtime, rearrange their lives for furlough days, accept tinier and tinier salaries: Because they "love the business" or something.

Or because they have nowhere else to go. We're on a sinking ship, people, and all the lifeboats are gone.

 

[RickStain]

I don't see why the union would agree to this - your option is not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage, or not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage while working your ass off.

Same reason some people work unpaid overtime, rearrange their lives for furlough days, accept tinier and tinier salaries: Because they "love the business" or something.

Or because they have nowhere else to go. We're on a sinking ship, people, and all the lifeboats are gone.

At 15% paycuts, there can't be that much of a difference between journalism and generic, entry-level GED jobs.

 

[mustangj17]

I don't see why the union would agree to this - your option is not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage, or not being able to make your monthly rent or mortgage while working your ass off.

Same reason some people work unpaid overtime, rearrange their lives for furlough days, accept tinier and tinier salaries: Because they "love the business" or something.

Or because they have nowhere else to go. We're on a sinking ship, people, and all the lifeboats are gone.

At 15% paycuts, there can't be that much of a difference between journalism and generic, entry-level GED jobs.

I know if I lost my job I wouldn't even be able to get an entry level GED job. About a year ago I was offered $8.00 per hour from Office Max though. Decided to stay in the biz.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

That is a make-em-strike proposal. It is designed to break the Guild, so that management can then fire everybody, then rehire or hire new employeees after 30-50 percent pay cuts.
Every employee of the Indy Star should be looking for another job, right now. One way or another, at least half of them will need one soon.

 

[ColbertNation]

That is a make-em-strike proposal. It is designed to break the Guild, so that management can then fire everybody, then rehire or hire new employeees after 30-50 percent pay cuts.

Wish I could disagree with that.

 

[slappy4428]

That is a make-em-strike proposal. It is designed to break the Guild, so that management can then fire everybody, then rehire or hire new employeees after 30-50 percent pay cuts.

Wish I could disagree with that.

Sadly, you're right

 

[Bubbler]

That is a make-em-strike proposal. It is designed to break the Guild, so that management can then fire everybody, then rehire or hire new employeees after 30-50 percent pay cuts.
Every employee of the Indy Star should be looking for another job, right now. One way or another, at least half of them will need one soon.

If only there were jobs to find ... that's also part of the problem and one reason why corporate is feeling their wild, ****-the-employee oats.

Our industry may be sucking pipe, but so is nearly every other. Best friend from my wedding? Took a 10 percent pay cut a few weeks ago. He's at an advertising firm. A family member? Been furloughed once and will be again. He's an engineer.

It isn't just us. Unfortunately, corporate knows it and they're ****ing everyone over knowing it.