The Los Angeles Times Guild staged a one-day work stoppage at both its Los Angeles and Washington D.C. offices Friday, in response to the threat of imminent layoffs of as much as one-fifth of the newsroom’s staff. LA times staffers at the walkout rally in downtown LA on Jan. 19, 2024 (Sharon Knolle/TheWrap)In a statement issued Thursday, the newspaper said it needs to “reduce our operating budget going into this year and anticipate layoffs. In exchange for an offer to save 50 union roles, the Times’ leadership is seeking “flexibility” to lay off who it wants and not be restricted by contractual protections for senior guild members. “Under our contracts, LA Times management can, in fact, lay off as many journalists as it likes,” said Pearce. We don’t think that’s mutually exclusive.”On Friday, guild members flashed some of that unity.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 20, 2024 16:45 UTC