Fresno Bee To Lay Off 63, Cut Salaries

FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno Bee will lay off 63 workers and cut salaries in order to reduce expenses in a weak advertising market.

In a memo to employees Wednesday, publisher Will Fleet said the cuts will occur in all departments.

Fleet says online readership is growing and circulation of the print edition is strong. But he says advertisers have been spending less during the recession, necessitating the move.

The cuts by the paper are part of a plan by its owner, McClatchy Co., to eliminate 15 percent of its work force. Union members agreed to take pay cuts of up to 6 percent in exchange for fewer layoffs.

Employees in all departments earning more than $35,000 a year will have their pay cut between 4 percent and 10 percent starting next month.

Comments

[Promisin1]

The Fresno Bee's headline says it all! "Spending Bill Stuffed with Pork." False claims like this is the reason why US newspapers are in crash and burn mode. Even the USDA will give meat an "extra lean" rating if its less than 2% fat.

[davidwayneosedach]

Let us hope that these desperation tactics save the Bee!