Thursday, February 4, 2010

Reminder: Star Tribune protest, Feb. 5, 4 p.m.

Dear friends and family of dismissed Star Tribune employees:

This is a reminder of the plan to have a short protest in front of the Star Tribune on Friday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m.

Again, we realize that this demonstration won't get anyone's job back. But we also think it's important now, during one of the worst economic times in generations, to call out the greed and profiteering of the new owners and management of the Star Tribune, coming at hardworking peoples' expense.

And just because this is not a guild-sanctioned event -- but that doesn't mean guild members can't participate. Also, we are making every effort to not directly involve the names of the laid-off employees, so they don't suffer any type of backlash.

See You There!
• We will meet in the small open space area directly across from the Star Tribune’s main entrance (425 Portland Avenue) at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.
• Bring your own homemade sign (I'll have a few extra).
• Wear black semi-formal business attire. The point is to demonstrate that the employees were professionals and to combat demonstrator stereotypes. Black suits also make a very strong statement. *Wear long-underwear and layer-up for warmth!
• I will have small green ribbons (Star Tribune green) for you to pin on your suits.
• We will adjourn at 5:30 p.m. and likely head over to Kieran's Irish Pub for drinks and recognition of laid-off employee service.


For further information, either leave your comments on this blog, or e-mail me at theminneapples@me.com and I will gladly contact you directly.

Thank you!

Star Tribune: Profitable, yet putting people out of work

Yes, they declared bankruptcy and dumped their debt back onto the banks and, ultimately, taxpayers. (Bailout alert!)

Yes, they they're dumping hard-working and valuable employees onto federal and state unemployment lines -- even further burdening our tax rolls.

But times are tough for the newspaper industry.

OR ARE THEY?


Mike Sweeney: 'Future is bright for news'
"The Star Tribune is alive and well without tapping state taxpayers.
Today we are a profitable company with a healthy balance sheet and the financial resources to fulfill our core mission of being Minnesota's most important news source."

Mike Sweeney in the Star Tribune, Nov. 22, 2009


Mike Sweeney: Significant operating cash flow
It's wrong to question the Star Tribune's survivability. Including digital readers, the Star Tribune's audience has never been larger, he said. The newspaper is projected to generate significant operating cash flow next year and is in no danger of collapse, he said.

Mike Sweeney, quoted in MinnPost, Nov. 15, 2009

New Star Tribune board members: $40K a year plus stock options
The Strib will shell out $160,000 (actually more) for governance of a $200 million-a-year (for now) company. While that would pay for five rookie reporters ...

MinnPost, Sept. 14, 2009

New Star Tribune publisher's salary: $400,000-plus
[New publisher] Klingensmith will make "$400,000 per year in cash, plus incentive compensation and options struck at plan value."

The disclosure comes at an awkward time — the Strib is about to buy out or lay off 30 newsroom workers, some with several decades of experience, after pink-slipping about 70 other workers company-wide late last year.

MinnPost, Jan. 18, 2010

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Protest the Star Tribune cuts: Feb. 5, 2010

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
-Bishop Desmond Tutu


Dear friends and family of dismissed Star Tribune employees:

I’m the spouse of a Star Tribune employee. My spouse, and probably your spouse, partner, or family member was laid off this past Wednesday.

If you’re like me, you’re probably moving up and down the ‘stages of change’ grief continuum -- shock, pain, anger, depression, and maybe even, acceptance.

You might also be panicking, just as we are. We have a mortgage, school loans and all of the typical cost-of-living responsibilities that any family has. In three months, even with unemployment assistance, we will be unable to afford our mortgage. And, like many Americans, we will no longer afford health insurance.

No doubt we all share similar stories -- that of future uncertainties and hardships. This is one of many reasons to show support and solidarity for the 30 employees that were disposed of this past week and the 75 others last November.

Some people I know have suggested that “everyone will find work again,” and that the paper had to “do what they had to do to survive in this bad economy.”

That’s a glib mischaracterization of reality. The recent glob of lay-offs has been especially dirty, and cowardly, this time around. And it clearly wasn’t just about saving money. The Star Tribune is profitable.

As such, it should be setting an example for the better, not the worst.

I’ve never spoken out like this before (well, not since I led an 8th grade protest) so I’m a little scared. But my hope is that you will join me next week in making a peaceful statement to the management of the Star Tribune -- that their business practice and behavior during the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes is unacceptable.

I know that some of the disposed employees will be touched by this gesture, so please try to dedicate a minimal amount of your time for them and the hard work they have invested into this newspaper.

I urge you to share this posting with your friends and family.

Lastly, please note the following ‘plan of action’ and ‘ground rules’:

Plan of Action
• We will meet in the small open space area directly across from the Star Tribune’s main entrance (425 Portland Avenue) at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.
• Bring your own homemade sign (I'll have a few extra).
• Wear black semi-formal business attire. The point is to demonstrate that the employees were professionals and to combat demonstrator stereotypes. Black suits also make a very strong statement. *Wear long-underwear and layer-up for warmth!
• I will have small green ribbons (Star Tribune green) for you to pin on your suits.
• We will adjourn at 5:30 p.m. and head over to a place TBD later this week for drinks and recognition of laid-off employee service.

Ground Rules
• Please protect laid-off employees’ anonymity so that their future job prospects are not compromised or sabotaged in any way.
• Please protect the anonymity of family and friends (all of us)!
• Please refrain from using verbal or written profanities on signs, clothing, etc. This will only make us look bad and create negative press.
• Please leave with whatever you bring (food, signs, trash, etc.).
• Please be peaceful and mindful of fellow citizens so that no one is arrested or physically injured.
• Please follow all city laws regarding sidewalk, curb, and street use.

For more information on the recent lay-offs, go to:
http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2010/01/25/15295/let_the_star_tribune_byline_strike_begin

For information on the actual financial stability of the Star Tribune, read what the owner recently had to say here:
http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/11/15/13454/ooo_its_a_star_tribune-minnesota_public_radio_spat

For further information, either leave your comments on this blog, or e-mail me at theminneapples@me.com and I will gladly contact you directly.

Thank you!