January 13, 2006

IS LONDON FALLING?

 

On Monday, January 9, 2006, Women's Wear Daily (WWD) reported that all the editorial employees in Time magazine's London offices - some 20 staffers - have been offered “voluntary” buyouts.  A spokesperson told WWD that it was too soon to say how many people would be asked to stay or be laid off, or what number would leave willingly. Time's managing editor, Jim Kelly, was quoted as saying “There's no wholesale firing going on, just some kind of general trimming.”

 

The Guild has spoken to several of the London employees (who are not covered by our contract) and they say that employees will have to meet individually with a committee or panel to discuss whether their jobs may be at risk. London staffers say they are being asked to volunteer for a buyout. If not enough people volunteer, or they're not the “right” people, the “voluntary” buyouts will be followed by additional enforced buyouts.

 

Downsizing is always painful for those affected. But it must be particularly stressful for our London colleagues not to know exactly what the parameters of this “general trimming” are. Staffers have not been told how many people management has in mind, or what departments are being targeted, or indeed, if people must be cut from every department. 

 

Unfortunately, the Guild cannot legally represent Time Inc. employees who are based in foreign countries. If we did represent them, their situation would be much clearer. Management would have to follow the Guild contract procedure for a reduction in force: It would have to first announce how many jobs were being cut in each job category and ask for volunteers, who would have a two-week period to apply.  If there were not enough volunteers, management would have to eliminate employees in the affected job categories in order of reverse seniority -last come, first out (... “except where an Employee is involved in a special function or except where the abilities, skills, or performance of the junior Employee are superior to the more senior Employee as determined at the discretion of the Publisher, such discretion not to be abused.”—Article XXI, Section 7(b) of the Guild contract).

 

And the employees could not be told they must meet individually with a management committee to learn what their personal situation might be. That would be intimidation of individuals, which is contrary to the job-elimination procedure, and it is also direct dealing, which management may not legally initiate if you are covered by a union contract. In these situations, representation and support from a union, and an orderly and fair procedure, mean a great deal to employees.

 

The Guild wants our London colleagues to know we wish them well. And with the rumors of pending layoffs circulating here at home, we want our local colleagues to know we are monitoring this situation closely.

 

Sometimes we take our union contract for granted. We need to preserve our rights and you can help by joining the Guild. If not now, when?

 

Join now!

 

For membership information, contact Membership Chairperson Alex Blanco at 212-522-4187.

 

 #####

1/13/06