Steal from the Working - Give to the Rich - The Motto of the LHL?

McClatchy Corp. CEO Gary Pruitt promised McClatchy employees in April that any future cuts would be “humane, sensible and with an eye toward the future.”

Today McClatchy, which owns dozens of newspapers, including the Lexington Herald-Leader, announced corporate-wide layoffs of 1,400 employees that are not humane, sensible or with an eye toward the future. This amounts to approximately 10 percent of McClatchy’s workforce.

The Guild does not believe it is humane when employees who have put in a lifetime of service to McClatchy and Knight-Ridder are thrown to the curb while McClatchy’s excessive corporate bureaucracy remains untouched. In fact, just last week McClatchy added a new corporate vice
president.

The Guild does not believe it is sensible that Mr. Pruitt is allowed to keep his $800,000 performance bonus from last year, even though McClatchy stock has lost 71 percent of its value.

The Guild does not believe downsizing is the best approach to our future and believes McClatchy and the Herald-Leader would be more successful by strengthening core departments and improving websites, while seeking additional venues for its quality products.

The Lexington Newspaper Guild understands that in these challenging times that change and sacrifice are necessary. But sacrifices should be made in an equitable manner and not as a short-term response to long-term financial concerns.

The Lexington Newspaper Guild, CWA Local 33229, represents 100 newsroom workers at the Herald-Leader.

Contact information available by request.