Layoffs Coming to LA Times Pressroom (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Fishbowl LA ^ | August 15, 2011 | Pandora Young

[abb]

A Times pressroom is being further downsized “in response to the decline in revenue and page counts.” Ten union pressroom employees will be laid off at the end of August.

The LAT pressroom has been hit hard by layoffs in the past. Last year the paper closed their Orange County printing facility as a cost-cutting measure. There are currently about 127 pressroom employees at the one remaining printing facility

The full email from management is included after the jump.

The email below was found at the union blog Save Our Trade.

Ronnie Pineda GCC-IBT Local #140N

As we have previously indicated, the LA Times continues to evaluate its business and seize opportunities to better compete in this very difficult economy. Indeed, this economy has made it particularly challenging for those in the newspaper business. To that end, the LA Times will reduce staffing in the pressroom in response to the decline in revenue and page counts. Unfortunately, this decision will result in the layoff of employees, including ten employees in the bargaining unit. Layoffs will likely begin on or about August 28, 2011.

Please contact me if you have any additional questions.

Russ Newton SVP Operations & Home Delivery

[abb]

Tuesday evening good news.

[The Iceman Cometh]

No problem here. They’ll receive unemployment which of course creates jobs. So, no net loss in jobs.

[freedumb2003]

I bet they outsource the whole printing operation inside of 5 years.

If they last that long.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Maybe this is why the LA Slimes is actually reporting... they are trying to tick off the remaining readers with truth.

[YHAOS]

"Layoffs Coming to LA Times Pressroom"

0bama's fau - uh . . . Bush's fault?

[Spktyr]

How many more until they hit zero remaining?

[MediaMole]

Pressrooms tend to be full of expensive union employees.

[abb]

ping

[Allegra]

Gee, this breaks my heart.

[ken21]

shoulda laid off some jourbalists too.

[kevao]

I Hope they enjoy the Change from press office to unemployment office.

[Cicero]

Tick, tick, tick.

[onedoug]

They can´t say I didn´t warn them.

[papasmurf]

There was a point when I doubt I could have understood how a newspaper business could not compete, in a market of 10 Million, when there aren't any competitors.

Now, I find it hard to understand why they are still here.

[dunblak]

In any other well-run business, management would seek to find out why they were in a decline and move heaven and earth to fix the problem. Why is it that the LA and NY papers, as well as some of those in flyover country don’t get it? We, the people do not want biased news. We the people want just the facts. We the people do not want to hear the opinion of a twenty-something, marxist-educated, so-called journalist presented as straight news. May they broil in their own juices and seek to live on food stamps.

[Beowulf9]

Think of all the trees they’re saving!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanksk abb.

[lonevoice]

Tuesday evening good news.

Well well. It has been a pretty good day.

[SanFranDan]

But there is an election in 2012? Pray tell, how will they ever get their talking points out?

[BobP]