Unionized Los Angeles Times staffers began a one-day strike Friday, the first in the paper's 142-year history, to protest impending “drastic” layoffs.
The Los Angeles Times Guild, which represents about 400 editorial employees, went on strike after management announced Thursday layoffs that could hit 20% of the 500-person newsroom. I called out. The LA Times reported.
“Los Angeles Time management hass The Times Guild announced in a statement that it intends to lay off a significant number of journalists and called on the guild to water down seniority protections in union contracts to give it more freedom to choose who to fire. He said there was. strike.
“This will seriously impair our ability to provide the responsible journalism that is so important to Southern California.”
The strike comes at a tumultuous time for the historic newspaper company. Two weeks ago, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Kevin Merida, resigned over allegations of editorial interference from billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong. The Wrap reported.
The paper cut its newsroom staff by 74 people in June 2023, in part due to a decline in advertising. Annual losses of $50 million are reported.
LA Times management has not announced the scope of the layoffs, but the union is concerned that the majority of the 100 journalists expected to be laid off will be from that class.
Western Media Union President Matt Pearce called an emergency meeting Thursday and told colleagues in an email Thursday: “This is a big deal.”
spokesperson for The paper said in a statement: He told the LA Times on Thursday that the planned cuts were the result of a need to “reduce our operating budget for this year.”
“The most difficult decisions are those that impact our employees, and we do not make such decisions lightly,” the spokesperson added. “We continue to review our revenue projections for this year and are looking very carefully at our expenses and what our organization can support.”
Friday's strike will see L.A. Times employees across the country go on strike as unions demand targeted layoffs and pay cuts from management, as well as buyouts to help pay for total layoffs. It turns out.
The union also said executives would hold an all-hands town hall meeting to “articulate a clear roadmap to not only reduce costs but also increase revenue,” and conduct a survey and selection process that would include union representatives. We are calling for the establishment of a committee. Next editor-in-chief.
The 20% layoff is “the largest reduction in staff since the paper became owned by Tribune Co.,” the newspaper reported.
Healthcare billionaire Soon-Shiong bought the LA Times from Tribune, which changed its name to Tronc, in 2018 for $500 million.
