Courtesy Pixabay / PexelsLos Angeles Times journalists conducted the first newsroom union work stoppage in the 142-year history of the newspaper Friday, one day after management disclosed that substantial layoffs could be coming amid a widening budget deficit. The one-day walkout was prompted by management’s request to waive seniority provisions in the union’s contract covering layoffs, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Times Guild, the union representing the paper’s newsroom employees. “We need to reduce our operating budget going into this year and anticipate layoffs,” Times spokeswoman Hillary Manning said Thursday in a statement. The union is asking the public not to click on Times stories, engage with Times-brand accounts on social media or open Times news alerts through 11:59 p.m. Friday. The Times’ expected layoffs follow an extensive trend in print media stemming from reduced advertising and subscription revenue.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 20, 2024 15:58 UTC