Report: San Francisco Chronicle may cut half news staff
Sacramento Business Journal
March 6, 2009
The San Francisco Chronicle may cut 225 out of 460 newsroom positions if the union that represents the journalists doesn't meet the company's demands, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has notified several staffers that they've been chosen to work for an online venture, fueling more speculation that Hearst Corp. -- which owns both the San Francisco and Seattle papers -- plans to run an Internet news operation after shuttering the daily.
If the union does agree to concessions, the San Francisco paper would cut 150 newsroom positions. The paper wants workers to give up seniority rights, cut back vacation, sick time and maternity/paternity leave. The Chronicle also wants the union to let the paper outsource some work to non-union employees, according to the East Bay Express.
According to a post on the Seattle P-I Web site, two reporters say they have "provisional offers" from P-I New Media boss Michelle Nicolosi or Hearst executive Ken Riddick.
The reporters, who declined to elaborate on the details of the offers, said they expect formal offers if New York-based Hearst gives the green light for the Web-only P-I.
One reporter, Hector Castro, said he was offered a Web spot that would mean an increase in his health insurance cost but a cut in pay.
Castro said he would be required to give up his P-I severance pay. The offer also would require Castro to agree to reduced vacation and no overtime.
The P-I post said Castro turned down the offer.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/03/02/daily78.html
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