New Philly newspaper owners calls layoff notice letter ‘procedural,’ says no job cuts planned
By APSaturday, May 8, 2010
Pa. newspapers’ layoff notice called ‘procedural’
PHILADELPHIA — Employees of Philadelphia’s two major newspapers have been sent a letter warning of possible layoffs, but the lenders who won the newspapers at a bankruptcy auction last month say the notice is “procedural” and no such action is planned.
The letters sent Friday to employees of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News say the new company “will continue as the employer of all employees.” But they also note that the letter would serve as notice under a federal law requiring 60 days notice in the event of mass layoffs.
New chief operating officer Robert Hall says the letter is a procedural matter since the company is “starting anew” and no mass layoffs are planned. A union official and Gov. Ed Rendell say they’ve received similar assurances.
