This isn't the place to whine or blow off steam, so I'll keep this short, knowing I'll return to the subject as things play out...Wednesday was, to say the least, a disheartening day for those of us who've continued to bring our talent, experience and resourcefulness to what we consider a noble enterprise -- daily newspaper journalism -- even as we've seen three waves of colleagues leave The Oregonian through early retirements or buyout offers.
The publisher and the editor broke the news yesterday that the company was unilaterally ending a job security pledge that we'd come to view as inviolable. I'll let you read the details below. Suffice to say that it opens the door to potential layoffs in 2010. Up to now, everyone who's left has done so voluntarily, accepting terms of whatever buyout package was on the table.
Another round is coming after Labor Day. Time for those of us who've hung in there, trusting that previous personnel reductions would bring expenditures in line with revenues, to consider -- again -- if it makes sense to stay and hope for the best. Or, at last, sever the ties.
Oregonian announces end to job-security pledge
The Oregonian announced Wednesday that a long-standing and unusual job-security pledge for full-time employees against layoffs for economic and technological reasons will end in February of next year.
Publisher Fred A. Stickel cited the need for flexibility in the future given the difficult economy and declining revenues the newspaper faces. Employees as of Jan. 1, 2010, also will be required to pay a portion of the premium for their health care, depending on income level. Employees hired before 2005 had not been required to contribute to the cost of coverage for themselves or their family.
The company also announced full-time employees would be required to take at least six furlough days in the first six months of next year.
The job-security pledge is common among the daily newspapers of Advance Publications, owner of The Oregonian. Similar announcements were made at other Advance papers on Wednesday.
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