Still silence

This came out after the announcement of the CEO's pay raise and other "compensation increases". Where is the outrage,the hand wringing, the call for caps on CEO pay????

Posted: Apr. 2, 2009

Most employees at all Journal Communications divisions will take a 6% pay cut for the remainder of the year and in return will get 10 additional personal days off under a plan announced Thursday by Steven J. Smith, the company's chairman of the board and CEO.

In a letter sent to employees, Smith said the pay reduction and time off are a reflection of weak advertising spending.

"There is a high probability that this environment will continue for at least the balance of 2009," Smith said. "As we manage for the long-term success of the company, we must identify constructive ways to continue to reduce costs."

The pay cuts and time off affect executives, managers, market managers, supervisors, as well as corporate staff. The company is also asking on-air broadcast talent and most union employees to negotiate payroll reductions.

The program will be implemented at Journal Communications, Journal Broadcast Group, Journal Sentinel and Journal Community Publishing Group.

This week, the company also offered a voluntary separation agreement to newsroom employees represented by Newspaper Guild Local 51. The company has told the Guild that it needs to cut $1.2 million in annual payroll.