I'd like the panel to discuss the conflict of interest re: the New York Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief Ethan Bronner. Bronner's son serves in the Israeli Defense Forces and readers alerted the New...
Globe publisher: Can't rule out further job cuts
posted by Ralph Ranalli on October 15, 2009
Boston Globe publisher Steven Ainsley refused to rule out futher job cuts during a meeting with employees this morning. a member of the Globe's largest union said today.
Executives called the meeting to explain how the paper will move forward after yesterday's decision by the New York Times Company not to sell the newspaper. Reporter Scott Allen, a member of the Newspaper Guild, said the publisher was asked for reassurance on job security by employees who have already seen their salaries cut, their health insurance premiums increased, and their employer pension plan contributions eliminated.
"Steve Ainsley, the publisher, was asked directly: 'Can you reassure us that there won't be layoffs?' " said Allen, who attended the 11 a.m. town hall style meeting at the newspaper's Morrissey Boulevard headquarters. "And he said absolutely not."
Allen said the main speaker at the meeting was Times Co. CEO Janet Robinson, who thanked the employees for the sacrifices they have made. Robinson said that cost-cutting and revenue-enhancing measures like the recent subscription price increase have allowed the Globe's finances to improve to the point where the Times wasn't compelled to sell, Allen said.
Other than that, however, Robinson had little reassuring to offer, he said.
"Today the message was: Conditions have improved, the paper is improving, we see a strong future here but we're not in the black yet and it's too soon to talk about making right what happened to you folks this year," Allen said.
"I think people probably came away from that meeting feeling like well, we know who our owner is, but we don't see any improvement in our working conditions for some time to come."
Comments
Hi and Thanks Ralph
ST: Hate these Meetings, Just Tell the Truth
I have been in these type meetings on the UP side many times, and on the Down side. They almost have never made me happy.
Somehow management by telling a lie, or hiding information thinks it adds value to the business and keeps the employees cheerful and working hard for "The Cause"
Telling the Truth, Giving Of the Numbers, and Truly offering a Challenge is much more meaningful for some of the Great people that work at the Globe.
Good Management requires honesty first and foremost.
When Globies were absorbing cuts in benefits & pay, at least they could take solace in the notion that like people of a certain age getting gussied up for a singles dance to attract suitors, a leaner & less costly paper might draw a deep-pockets buyer. I concede that ax-wielding Platinum Equity was a scary prospect, but Globies still find themselves tethered to an arrogant, struggling NYT that warns of possible further cutbacks and will rightly save itself at the Globe’s expense if print journalism’s downward spiral continues. Yet there’s “cautious optimism” among Globies? I don’t get it. The status quo looks more like a “lose/lose,” than “win/win” proposition.
Does this really surprise anyone?
Anyone?
Anyone?
(Sometimes, Ben Stein, circa Ferris Bueller, can be useful.)
Years ago, right around the time the Globe was sold to the NYTimes, the Globe published a story about how all of Boston's institutions were being sold to larger conglomerates not based in Boston-all the banks, of which Boston used to have many, the department stores, the insurance companies, the buildings themselves. I left Boston long ago but still feel sad to see a once-vibrant city reduced to some back-office backwater. Ah well, there's always the Red Sox!