Herald aims to cut 24 percent of union news staff

[ckramer]

Boston Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell said yesterday that he wants to eliminate nearly one-quarter of the 145 union newsroom jobs to save $2 million at the financially troubled paper.

The reductions would be a chunk of the $7 million Purcell is seeking to offset stagnating circulation and falling ad revenue. Purcell has already asked department heads to look for ways to cut costs, and the paper just said it was discontinuing its Sunday TV PLUS magazine.

In his meeting yesterday with executives of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Boston, Purcell laid out a proposal to cut about 35 editorial jobs. The company plans first to try to achieve staff reductions through buyouts, but to follow that up with layoffs if necessary.

''It would be an understatement to say we're stunned," said Lesley Phillips, the guild's president. ''It's a grave situation for the employees in the newsroom who have worked here for a long time and are completely committed."

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Haha, the Republican paper!

[thoughtanarchist]

1. he's going to replace

these union staffers with illegal immigrants making slave wages.

...just kidding...sort of.