March Layoffs

The following Guild full-time occupied positions were eliminated in March: one major accounts salesperson, two classified advisors, one food service coordinator, two news clerks and two copy editors. In addition, the company identified two vacant positions, Clerk I tearsheets and distribution specialist, as positions that were eliminated. As well, the part-time copy editor pool was reduced significantly and two part-time copy editors took layoffs.

One full-time photographer has been laid off from the Waterville unit at the Morning Sentinel as well. The Guild will be engaging in discussions about the reassignment of work.

The Guild continues to meet with the company and investigate the reassigned work, the universal copy desk and other issues.

Several other issues have arisen as well:

The company failed to give the requisite 30-day notice of layoffs. The company did pay out impacted members 30 days of notice pay in addition to severance due. The company has also recognized the obligation for advance notice and talks are continuing on a resolution to this issue. The Guild feels it is important to have discussions in advance of layoffs so issues can be raised before layoffs are affected.

The company unilaterally changed services in the cafeteria. The company has recognized it has an obligation to negotiate over the impact of the change. The sides have agreed that Green Mountain coffee will return, there will be an always-on hot water source in the cafeteria and there will be plastic utensils available.

The company also created a new Online Content Producer in news and two sales positions in MaineToday during layoffs. The company originally established the new sales positions under the New Business Venture letter. The company didn’t believe NewspaperNext initiatives were part of the MaineToday side letter. After discussions the company and Guild have agreed that these positions and N2 initiative positions are covered by the MaineToday.com side letter. The Guild is also reviewing the job duties of the Online Content Producer in conjunction with the layoff of copy editors.

In addition, the Guild is also investigating the formula used to determine severance payments to part-timers. The company is using only the last six-month period to determine what percentage of each qualifying period is paid out.