Buyouts result in painful newsroom losses
Friday, June 8, 2018 by The Guild
The Editorial Department of The Buffalo News is expected to lose at least 16 Guild members as a result of targeted and voluntary buyouts that the company made available last month. The loss of so many veteran newsroom staffers at once is deeply troubling to the Guild.
Prior to these departures, the Guild represented 100 members on the newsroom floor, encompassing everyone responsible for reporting, fact-checking, designing and producing the paper, with the exception of upper management.
The buyouts, as they stand, represent a loss of 16 percent of the Guild-represented newsroom staff, and nearly a fifth of staff reporters and columnists.
“There’s no sugarcoating what a blow this is to journalism in Western New York,” said Guild President Sandy Tan. “We’re losing respected colleagues whose work has been invaluable to this newsroom and to this community.”
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 by The Guild
The past few weeks have yielded a bumper crop of bad news for The News, and consequently, for Guild members. The News experienced its worst first quarter in decades and has embarked on a series of cost-cutting measures, including buyouts on the newsroom floor.
In May, management offered cash buyouts to nine Guild members in the Editorial Department.
The employees were told their jobs were either being eliminated or their hours slashed. The Guild members whom management approached included copy editors, designers, part-time reporters and clerical staff. More newsroom buyouts are expected.
In some ways, these painful events highlight the importance of the Guild at this paper. Since the buyouts were offered, the Guild has moved into high gear, disseminating information, negotiating better buyout packages and safeguarding Guild member rights.
Monday, April 16, 2018 by Daniel Kirchberger
Vincent “Jim” Ippolito Sr., a former Guild member of Local 26 who helped organize the district managers at the Courier Express in the early 1960s, passed away Saturday, April 14.
Friends may call at the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Ave. in Silver Creek on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. in the same location.
More infromation: IPPOLITO, Vincent E., Sr. “Jim”
Thursday, February 15, 2018 by The Guild
The three-year agreement, ending in July 2021, extends the current contract with no wage cuts or givebacks.
The News also agreed to the Guild’s pilot project proposal to create a new job class, digital content producer, and restricts online freelancers from regular beat coverage, stories with high-anticipated news value, enterprise reporting or subject matter requiring ongoing coverage.
More News
- Guild reaches tentative agreement on 3-year contract with no concessions or cuts to wages, benefits
- Members protest The News’ overreliance on freelance writers
- Guild members march in Labor Day Parade
- Guild gains editorial jurisdiction at The Hamburg Sun
- Two-year Guild contract secured after 10 months of negotiations
- Guild to host NewsGuild Multi-District Council meeting in June
- Guild members approve new contract
- Guild schedules contract vote for April 20
- Company updates employees on State of the News
- Tan succeeds Davis as Guild president
- Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
- Volunteers needed for Guild’s annual community project with Riverkeeper
- Guild executive committee minutes: Wednesday, March 14, 2018
- Contract ratification vote scheduled for Feb. 15
- Guild executive committee minutes: Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018
