Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday | Feb. 19 | Your News & Comments
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90 comments:
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
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welcome to today
ReplyDeleteDid voluntary layoff Dec. 3rd. Over 10 years with Gannett. Haven't gotten my Retirement papers yet and getting worried that the stock, falling lower and lower every day is signs that I won't get my money. I have the signed paper of severance and retirement money coming... I'm hoping this retirement money is insured and a 'sure thing'. Legally, how long does Gannett have to have that money in your hands? 90 Days?
ReplyDelete10:51: WRITE your HR department, via email, with return receipt, every other day and ask about your pension and anything else you still have not gotten. If you are a pest to them, they will respond. Too many people on here have stories of contacting their HR depts. after weeks and weeks of waiting only to find the HR depts. have done NOTHING with the paperwork. You must bug them. And, yes, they only have 90 days to get your money to you. BUG THEM!!!!! And get your money before they change anything else to screw with former employees.
ReplyDeleteThe bashing of the Jersey papers is undeserved. The weekday color comics rock and I dropped the Star Ledger cause their comics are black/white. Plus, the features section is better and the crossword puzzle is larger in the APP. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons this site is so succesful is because of the number of hits from the Jersey group. Jim do you have any idea what percentage of your posters come from NJ?
ReplyDeleteRead online today that Gannett is trying to obtain a competitive blog against Jim. Good luck with that!
ReplyDeleteDid you notice these Gannett people keep trying to post metromix to any or all of your facebook contacts?
So amusing.
Something in the works in the east coast group to purchase something, probably online related. Corporate is trying to get money out of the community papers for something.
ReplyDeleteCorporate says it is mandatory that each artist post their best ads to get a cash prize. The underlying message is, that they want great ads posted on this site so sales can use them as spec ads. Bottom line means less artists, and all sites can pull ads from this site. Crowd sourcing at it's best.
ReplyDeleteIt appears Jim, that no one is talking these days. There is tons of news I know of, yet I don't hear it from anyone else. Someone has stopped the info from coming to your site.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to start truly being a journalist again, because there is a ton of stuff you are missing out on.
OK, 11:46: So spill it. You've already posted anonymously. It's up to the blog readers to break the news too, ya know. It ain't all on Jim.
ReplyDeleteWestchester again shows its lack of news judgment by not sending reporter/photog and playing up chimp attack story. It happened 2 miles from westchester border. It's been a national story for 3 days and is now main story on cnn homepage. can you say clueless.
ReplyDeleteHR doesn't control when pensions get processed, Corporate does.
ReplyDeleteHounding local HR wastes time unless it is to get the name & phone # of the person in Corp in charge of processing.
Well gosh 2:15, you know Gannett only publishes what they determine is news for the masses. After all they didn't even report their own layoffs until pressered into it.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of news regarding furloughs, layoffs, buyouts, closures is a bit nerve wracking. Unless Gannett has suddenly found funds to keep everybody working and the news flowing, somebody's hiding something. What's going on with the Florida group? We know what's up with Jersey.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a chimp attack isn't news in the Local Information Center in Westchester.
ReplyDeleteThese papers are becoming jokes...cruel jokes perpetrated on the loyal readers.
It's time for readers to band together and quit the newspaper.
I know a lot of folks where I live have stopped the local Gannett paper.
Old news. No news. Lack of news judgment.
Yep, that's Gannett in 2009.
"Read online today that Gannett is trying to obtain a competitive blog against Jim."
ReplyDeleteOut of the question! They'd only drive more traffic to this blog by doing that.
Oh, wait... That wouldn't make any sense at all. It therefore, must be a Gannett initiative!
Don't get this New Jersey bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in New Jersey. Worked at a Gannett Jersey paper. It didn't rock then, and it sure the heck doesn't rock now.
Moved on to the Arlington start up in 1983, and never looked back. Left the Arlington start up in 1987, and am glad to be done with it.
The only thing I can say is Jersey papers are between a rock and a hard place. Very sad because local communities use to identify with the local paper. Not anymore since corporate cut out any goodwill between its papers and the community.
It's all very clear when Al forced a leverage buy out of the Gannett Foundation, which was to support Gannett communities, and turned all that wealth into his personal domain called the Freedom Forum. Curley and the Board of Directors got blindsided back then. Al laughed all the way to the bank. Talk about a legal way of stealing.
So is it any surprise that we get honest journalism from Gannett when its past CEO is a crook (not that there were any laws broken)?
Al showed everyone who aspired to run Gannett that it is all about the CEO, not about the company.
I did not return to New Jersey.
Damn! This from AP overnight:
ReplyDelete"...The grim conditions prompted Media General Inc. to inform its 5,600 workers Wednesday that they will be forced to take 10 unpaid days by the end of the year. Four of the days off must be scheduled by the end of March, with the remainder spread over the final six months of the year. The Richmond, Virginia-based company expects the furloughs to save about $9 million, spokesman Ray Kozakewicz said.
Media General previously had trimmed about $19 million from its expenses by suspending its matching contributions to workers' 401(k) retirement plans and suspending dividend payments to shareholders. The company publishes 24 daily papers, including The Tampa Tribune and Richmond-Times Dispatch in Virginia, and owns 19 television stations...."
Guess what folks?? IN the "follow the leader (?) mentality of our corp folks... guess what is going to be announced next by Gannett? Yep... basically the same thing.
Damn!
Can someone confirm rumors about space being cut in the Courier-Journal's sports section?
ReplyDeleteIf they follow that leader, then I'd rather deal with 10 unpaid days, than the rumored 20 (five per quarter).
ReplyDeleteThat wouldn't make furloughs any less appalling, by the way.
3:39, that isn't true at all. Any HR department of any place you work has earning and timeline information that they need to provide to your local HR before your local HR can pass along the paperwork to corporate, which then processes the pension to you. Talk about identifying an inefficiency - there is no central place where this employment information lives.
ReplyDeleteAt least Media General TOLD their people there will be more to come. That at least is humane, so the employees can plan ahead.
ReplyDeleteWhile New Jersey does dominate this blog, I am curious as to why USA Today comments are minimal by comparison. You would think the flagship, with an army of people and corporate right next door, would be all over this blog. It's also the place where Jim last worked, so it seems odd that USA Today isn't very well represented here.
ReplyDeleteAre things so comfortable at USA Today that there is no need for employees to pepper this blog with comments, inquiries or insights? Are things running smoothly there? No complaints? Or is everyone there just afraid to death of losing their big paychecks? I know many of us are being worked to death and have little time for blogging, but in my spare time, at home, I do try to contribute to the conversation here. I wonder why that isn't happening so much at USA Today except when the paper has some big news, like losing an editor.
I'd just like to point out that I took a voluntary buyout and had my pension money within a month. So the problem does seem to be in the local HR department, not corporate.
ReplyDeleteNew Jersey Group's APP seems to be one of the HRs that won't send corporate the employee data corporate needs to disperse pension until you make them do it. Once I figured that out, I wrote to everyone in HR and set a deadline, and HR complied.
ReplyDeleteThe 90-day law doesn't start until you officially ask for a rollover. When I learned of the stall tactics, I mailed a return-receipt letter requesting rollover to start the clock ticking on the day they received it, according to a lawyer I spoke to. However, Gannett seems to be under the impression the 90 days doesn't start until after you send back its form in the pension packet from corporate. So far, though, the corporate rep has been prompt and responsive, and others say the check has come pretty soon after sending back the form.
The new dilemma I have is that the form seems to force us to agree to waive any claim in case something is found to be wrong with the calculations at a later date. Personally, I don't find that reasonable. In fact, I think it's schemey, and I wonder if such a compulsory waiver could hold up in court.
"NEW JERSEY PAPERS ROCK"
ReplyDeleteBill Albrect to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletere: 9:38
ReplyDeleteLouisville cutting newshole, "temporarily," through end of quarter ... guesstimate is about 15-20%, all sections apparently affected ... anyone else?
I've done everything this company has asked to get my pension payout. When the papers didn't arrive in a timely fashion after my layoff, I called HR. Then I got them back to corporate the next day, notarized and with my direct deposit info. They said it would take five weeks to get the money from that point. Well, it's been almost six weeks and still the money has not been deposited.
ReplyDeleteThis is just adding insult to injury and is why there is such a level of disdain and mistrust for this company. Heads should roll over how sloppy this process has been. And how about the irony in these incompetents still having jobs while so many of us qualified folks lost our jobs in December!
I am sure some folks are beginning to seek legal help in getting their money, which is a shame. This should be a relatively simple process. GCI shouldn't have to take yet another hit on its reputation over something that should be fairly routine. Between this ongoing pension problem and the countless age discrimination allegations and OT controversies, there is a lot of bad karma out there that I hope everyone who ever has thought about working for GCI sees.
This company's rep has gone right down the toilet. Perhaps even Wall Street reads this blog and see the same recurring problems and acts of incompetency.
Anon, 9:38 -
ReplyDeleteWith postseason basketball coming up, this is not the best time to implement this. Of course the readers won't understand.
It is a shame when a company that has been solid to loose so much ground. Where is the blame? It seems that good employees are taking the blunt of it. Why are the board and corp. staff including the CEO not explaning in more detail about bonuses and why they were paid. It would seem that there is a time when leadership at the top comes in to play.
ReplyDelete9:55 -- I have plenty of problems with Gannett, but GCI also told employees they would have to take furloughs, so I don't see Media General as any big hero.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they have suspended 401k contributions, which Gannett is yet to do. It just doesn't seem right to say, "Look how great Media General is. They took more from their employees but they announced it early and said there are more cuts to come."
Besides, if there are Gannett employees who aren't preparing for the possibility of a layoff, they're not paying attention. I don't need someone to say, "We will can 1,000 people next week," to see the writing on the wall.
At the least, we will see additional forced furloughs. At worst, another mass layoff or two. The company can't sustain the margins it wants without cutting expenses. And the pressure will be doubled if gas prices continue to push higher into the $2 range.
The moral? No matter what your local management is saying, do your best to prepare for a layoff. Then, if you keep your job it's a bonus.
The really sad part is that most people can't really prepare for a layoff. In American society, many middle-class folks are living paycheck to paycheck, making it really difficult when the check goes away.
I know I have more debt than I would like to be carrying right now. I'm working to lower it, so I don't ruin my credit rating if things get even worse, but that's probably just a dream.
I work in an Ad Production dept and wanted to send a few specs to 2AdPro but couldn't because we are over budget this month! I just found out that Gannett has to pay for EACH thing we send to them. I thought they were paid monthly or were on a contact to take as much as we send. We were told to send as much as possible over there! We still have one more week to go in the month, if we've over budget, WHO'S going to build all the ads? Can't send all to India (Excuse me "California") No overtime allowed here.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the fees but I heard we pay them $40 or $50 for each online ad. Some of their online ads are a joke! The sale reps are embarassed to show to the clients, so we have to re-do them! Half the shit we get back from them we have to re-do anyway! Maybe I should get paid extra for every ad I re-create! We don't have enough artists in my dept to do all the work since we're forced to take furloughs.
12:35
ReplyDeleteThe board and CEO call the shots, and they're looking to milk the company for every penny while it's still viable. Since their personal assetts are not connected to the long-term viability of the company, it doesn't much matter if if the corporation eventually fails. They'll still have their houses, boats and other investments.
Sure, they would love to see GCI flourish because they would make even more money. As it is, most of their losses have been on paper. Losing millions in stock will affect their net worth but not quality of life. On the contrary, when an employee loses his/her job it has an immediate impact on quality of life.
Still, the ultra-rich rarely agree to "take one for the team." Rather, most do what they can to protect their fortunes and cast everyone else aside.
So, why would they take the blame for the company's failure. That would mean stepping down and putting a larger dent in their shrinking fortunes.
"I don't think any CEO in a public company deserves a $50M bonus."
ReplyDelete-Hank Greenberg, legendary former AIG CEO, on CNBC a minute ago
Hey Hank, do you feel the same way about a $36M severance package for a CEO? Even if his company's stock went from $90 to sub-$4 while he was 'running' things?
Hey 12:57 you realize Hank Greenberg got 100's of millions of dollars when he left AIG and is the main reason of why AIG needed a bail out due to the fact he set up credit default swaps in AIG which lead to its downfall and billions in bailout. No one should be getting money!
ReplyDeleteHey, 12:42 why don't you quit complaining. At least YOU stil obviously have a job!
ReplyDeleteIf the CEO's were real CEO's and gave a crap about the companies under their watch, none of them would be taking their bonuses/raises this year. I'm shocked to see that people are still getting raises while so many in the US are getting pink slips. I really think it's time for everyone to pull together for the common good. Good leaders lead by example, and would go a long way in increasing productivity, morale, and the bottom line.
ReplyDelete12:41 - Keeping your job should never be viewed as a "bonus", even in today's economy.
ReplyDeleteRemember that with just perhaps ONE exception, even in these so-called "tough" times, all of the Gannett newspapers and other media companies too are making a PROFIT. That profit is just less than what they wanted.
Rather than tough it out and make do with less at the top, corporate CHOOSE to cut staff, cut neshole, services, furloughs, in order to maintain an artificially high profit margin
To me, that is almost - almost - criminal.
3.90 -0.16 -3.94%
ReplyDeletetrading at another all time low.
How LOW can you GO????
Lets play Limbo.
I'd rather play pin the tail on the Jack-ass except they're too many.
ReplyDelete109: Greenberg left AIG in 2005, after 35+ years of growing the company. See this chart of its performance:
ReplyDeletehttp://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AIG&t=my&l=off&z=l&q=l&c=
Looks like it was a couple years LATER that the company fell off the cliff.
1:17: I AM glad I still have a job! My point is, if we have work that needs to get done and we don't have enough workers here, with furloughs and no over time, we SHOULDN'T be told to NOT send work out to 2AdPro! Gannett laid off employees so they could outsource the work, and now they tell us we CAN"T send work out!
ReplyDeleteyeah. The chubby checker LIMBO song. Start-it up. All together now!
ReplyDeleteJim --
ReplyDeleteCutting the dividend is a sign that things are bad. But things are bad all over. Other companies are doing this too. The economy sucks.
I guess I just don't understand the tone that by doing this the board is doing something they shouldn't be doing. Or that there is something underhanded about it. When times are tough, tough measures have to be applied.
Don't get me wrong, I am a supporter of both you and this site. But if what they are doing is wrong, what would you suggest happen to keep the company viable?
to 1:36PM
ReplyDeleteThe debate over the dividend is not the Board cutting it is wrong. It's the question of will they cut it? Gannett has never cut the dividend.
Gannett NEEDS to cut it, but WILL they is the question at hand.
I kind of tire about what must be done to keep the company viable.
ReplyDeleteThe company is making north of $700 million a year. True, they are not making the 1.2 billion they were making during the gravy times, but $700 million is not chump change -- and certainly no reason to run around handing out unpaid furlows.
When I started at Gannett in 2001, the stock was somewhere north of $70 a share. While everyone hated it, moves by management (read ruthless cost cutting in between dreaming up the truly unique and motivational "first five graphs" training) made sense.
Maybe I am missing something, but what is the incentive to continue cutting the quality of the product when the stock is $4 a share (and fell from $9 since they announced the layoffs?
F-'em. So what if they delist the stock? Concentrate on running the business and reinvesting the $700 million on something other than corporate bonuses.
I get the feeling all this is done to save the heads of a half-dozen at the top. Are they concerned about a takeover? 1)nobody wants newspapers in this market and 2) it seems highly unlikely a takeover could prove worse than current management or provide less to its overworked, underpaid, furllowed, unappreciated employees.
That's the real question: Why so much emphasis on cut, cut,cut when the company is making millions? Hello-- the $1 billion plus was totally unrealistic gravy birthed by the spending frenzy that has brought down the entire economy.
In what other business is the long-term plan to continually cut the quality of the product to provide temporary gains to the bottom line?
1:50pm said "That's the real question: Why so much emphasis on cut, cut,cut when the company is making millions?"
ReplyDeleteThis is how they've made their millions. I worked for Gannett in the late 70's, early 80's, and now once again through no fault of my own. Gannett buys up newspapers, slices and dices production and circulation departments trimming the fat to the bone! Only difference now is Gannett is doing this slicing and dicing to the white-collar workers. Welcome to my world. No slight intended.
Well, here's hoping the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. stays solvent.
ReplyDeleteI left Gannett in 1996 and recently decided to get my very modest pension ($319 a month after 5 years of service) into a rollover.
It turns out that I can't. Since the present lifetime value of my pension exceeds $10,000 (they calculate it at $19,000), I'm barred from taking it in any form but a monthly annuity.
This rule changed in 1998 -- but since I left the company in 1996, I'm bound by the rules that existed during my employment.
So if Gannett goes bankrupt, I'm going to have to count on the PBGC for my $319 a month starting in 2023.
P.S. I just got the best verification word ever: "catness."
Help! I'm GCI! And I'm falling! Aaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!
ReplyDelete$3.85
Does anyone have name, number, address of corporate person in charge of pensions? HR office locally confirmed paperwork was sent but I have still not heard a thing from the big house. Thanks for any information,
ReplyDeleteEditor liberated on Dec. 3
I was told that the next step would be correspondence from Tom Burgum from corporate regarding pension. He is the administrator of the retirement plans, I think. You can google probably. (Or I could!)
ReplyDeleteInstead of cutting the dividend, perhaps the board will use a little “Gannett-speak” to announce that they will just suspend it. Sort of like saying they are furloughing employees instead of laying them off.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Feb 10 Philadelphia Inquirer
ReplyDeleteArea executive urges firms: Resist layoffs
http://tinyurl.com/be5p3q
Well, I was laid off in December and Gary DiSanto saw to it that I got my pension before Christmas! Our "negotions" were held at the Red Bull Inn. I am spending MY $227 a month on birth control pills.
ReplyDeleteI'm Hollis Towns and I've got a plan to save this company.
ReplyDeleteAnyone hearing the 5 percent pay reduction plan? I am hearing it is a possible for the 2nd quarter, replacing the furlough.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you hearing about a pay reduction plan from? What is your source (generally)?
ReplyDeletePerhaps today's announcment from Scripps regarding pay cuts, pension freeze, lousy year ahead, etc. is part of the reason for the buzz.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/da82kn
Re:3:03
ReplyDeleteThe number for Corp regarding penision is 703 854-6281 Carrie Oman's Offfice.
Good Luck let us know what story they tell you..I too have been waiting to no avail even after calling my former HR, I was told the paperwork was being submitted "that very day" over 6 weeks ago...how much follow up are we supposed to do for something that is rightfully ours! I didnt lose my job voluntarly!!
Wow, the whining here is incredible but understandable. Let's face it, folks. This economy is taking millions of people down, and CGI is probably going with it. We're going to have to take more furloughs. Plan on it now, and don't wait for the company to tell you. If they don't do it, you'll be pleasantly surprised. If they do, you'll have it already factored it into your planning. The economy is deflating at an increasingly faster rate. There's little on the horizon to change that. The company stock is tanking, and your pension is going with it. Yes, it sucks. So deal with it.
ReplyDeleteA 5 percent pay reduction? I knew that was coming, if not more furloughs. This way, we have to work all 40 hours a week, they just pay us less! They realized it was hurting production with furloughs. IF ITS ON THIS BLOG, ITS TRUE!!! I first saw the furlough blog on a Friday and then on Monday, we were notified!
ReplyDeleteHEY GANNETT, guess what? You can't keep secrets from us any more, we have this blog!
If there is a pay reduction, then UNIONS SHOULD GET PAY CUTS TOO! Its not fair to the non-union workers. To save money, how about NOT giving those huge bonuses to VPs/CEOs! They don't deserve it, our company is going down the drain.
OK, here's a what-if puzzler for you:
ReplyDeleteI retired from GCI several years ago under the old plan that pays me a modest monthly pension.
At the time I started receiving the pension, I was given a choice of receiving the entire monthly amount I was due, or a lesser amount with the promise that my wife, should she outlive me, would continue to receive that lesser amount for the remainder of her life. I took the lesser amount.
So, what if Gannett falters and the federal PBGC steps in. I doubt that agency would be bound by the GCI deal that guarantees continued payments to my widow.
So would the PBGC look at the reduced amount I have been receiving, or the full amount I could've been receiving, when figuring how much they might be willing to send my way?
No matter how you slice it... NJ PAPERS SUCK!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFurlough didn't produce the savings they wanted. Detroit was out, Tuscon not included, etc. But ad revenues are really slumping badly now, so pay cut is next up at bat.
ReplyDeleteNEWS: NYTimes suspends quarterly dividend:
ReplyDeletehttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/New-York-Times-suspends-apf-14417315.html
Here's a name you may have to get to know better: Traci Bauer. She has a long history with Kate Marymont stretching back to Springfield. The latest NewsWatch features an article by Bauer about her online work in Rochester. Want to start a pool guessing how long it will take for Marymont to bring Bauer to the Crystal Palace? The "old boys" don't have an exclusive on networking.
ReplyDeleteWhere is my pension money?!!!!
ReplyDeleteI was laid off in December and still haven't seen it.
Now I am worried I might never see it with this company tanking. I was depending on living on that money for awhile, but between the horrible economy and Gannett dragging its feet, I might not see that money until who knows when.
I have never seen a company this slow in giving pension payouts. It is bordering on criminal.
Gannett Pension:
ReplyDeleteHere's the scoop: I called today after submitting my paper work on Jan. 9th. Overnighted return receipt. I was told by Darin Brown ( who answered Bridgets' phone ) that my paper work was processed and is pending. He told me that Bridget L. Woodson approves all pending pensions. Bridget told me 6 weeks ago I would have it in 3. So you tell me what's going on???
Bridget L. Woodson 703-854-6208
Lets get on the ball.. corporate.
Is there any word on how badly ad sales are slumping at the community papers and USAT?
ReplyDeleteAd sales what ad sales?
ReplyDeleteI think our paper gave up. We didn't have a sales meeting for over a week. That's positive influence now isn't it?
ReplyDeleteabout ad sales, why are there so many jobs posted for all kinds of sales positions, including digital, Cars.com, etc., if nothing is selling?
ReplyDelete7:01 it's called the last minute scramble.
ReplyDeleteOn the question about the defined benefit plan's spousal payment, look at this web page
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pbgc.gov/media/key-resources-for-the-press/content/page13542.html
It appears to me that the PBGC would honor spouse payments after the retiree's death since that is all part of the retirement plan.
I'm sure my wife hopes they will and so do I.
What I think folks need to be worried about is from my readings on the PBGC site, it covers ONLY defined benefit plans like the old one that Gannett switched most everyone out of in 1998.
The current plan is NOT a defined benefit plan so would not appear to be covered.
If it's not covered, it looks like if GCI does file bankruptcy, those hoping for a "pension" payout will stand in line with all the other creditors and could end up with pennies on the dollar or worse.
I hope for the sake of current GCI employees I'm 100% wrong. But reading the PBGC web pages, that's the way I see it.
If I were still working and in that situation, I'd sure try to get clarification on whether or not the "pension" is covered by PBGC protection.
My guess is the local HR critters will not know what PBGC is or does so your only way of getting possibly correct information is from corporate. And even then it's a crap shoot.
Not much you can do about it one way or the other, but better to know what the score is now than when you think you'll be walking out with a pension check and find it isn't going to be there.
Jim, might be useful to put your business reporter hat on and clarify this situation for those still employed.
7:01
ReplyDeletebecause they all work on commission - and newbie sales people across the board bring in new stuff/customers (friends/relatives/neighbors) and then the company for whom they sell benefits - and then they are chewed up and spit out.
Answer to:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
about ad sales, why are there so many jobs posted for all kinds of sales positions, including digital, Cars.com, etc., if nothing is selling?
2/19/2009 7:01 PM
THE BLUNT Answer
Becouse no one wants to work for Gannett as a Sales REP they treat you like dung.
Word is more jobs are being elminated in St Cloud Minnesota. Will be done before the end of the Month.
ReplyDeleteWord in St Cloud MN Classified Manager is now the Online special projects manager, Online manager is now the prepress manager, Wright way shopper manager is now the classified manager. Retail manager is in the same spot. Maybe ready to unseat her possibly??
ReplyDeleteI was laid off in August 2008 and STILL am getting the run around from the HR person. Excuse after excuse and no movement. I WANT MY PENSION!
ReplyDeleteI've called the company that handles it for Gannett and still nothing.
What gives here? Isn't this grounds for legal action?
Here is an idea for corporate: Make workers work a 32 hour work week, with Fridays off. You save money by closing the building on Friday and you save millions by reducing the work week. But in turn, VPS, Publishers and CEOS must not get their bonuses. All raises frozen.
ReplyDeleteAt least we get to keep our health insurance and our jobs. Can AdPro2. If you read the latest news — US workers are now actually cheaper than outsourcing. Even GM and Chrysler, who want another bailout, are sending their work to Austrailia. Toyota, Honda, BWM are actually employing more US workers than the so-called “American made” vehicles. Ok, I've solved your financial woes. Now get to work to make our stock not be worth as much as McDonald's meal.
@ 12:46 PM
ReplyDeleteYou guys are paying 2adpro $40-$50 bucks per ad? I think we were told it was something like $15/ad, which sounds more reasonable if this is supposed to be a cost-saving measure. However, we also have a contract though no one seems to know when it expires. I could've sworn someone said we have to pay them the same amount every month, no matter how many ads we send, so we were encouraged to send as many as possible. Never had problems going over, we've always been under. There just isn't enough work to send so we've resorted to making up specs just to keep our numbers up.
Sounds like the problems with the pension payouts to laid off workers would make a good story in some other company's newspaper. Maybe The Washington Post would like to hear from those who are trying to get their money. Gannett is a local company in the Post coverage area.
ReplyDeleteLet's tell the Post our story. I think Howard Kurtz is the media reporter. Or maybe it's more of a business story. Either way, it's a newsworthy story...a company screwing over ex loyal employees after they were laid off. I too was hoping to use that payoff as a reserve to hold me over once severance is over. It's my money and I don't understand this incredibly immoral if not criminal delay.
Jim, can you post something telling people how to get in touch with The Washington Post about this pension payout fiasco or suggest another national media outlet that might be interested in this story? Maybe a little bad exposure in a real newspaper will help hundreds if not thousands of us get our damn money.
About pensions, if you're having problems, have you tried the pension rights center?
ReplyDeleteRegarding....Did voluntary layoff Dec. 3rd. Over 10 years with Gannett. I'm hoping this retirement money is insured and a 'sure thing'. Legally, how long does Gannett have to have that money in your hands? 90 Days?
ReplyDelete1) Fill in the pension forms and return. 2) Send them in. 3) They have a year to get you your money, but generally do in 90 days or less.
5:15 p.m. I've already got my second quarter furlough planned.
ReplyDeleteFor the thousandth time - Gannett's pension program IS A DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe payout is DEFINED by a mathematical formula based on years of service and salary. It IS COVERED BY THE PBGC...
Jim - Perhaps a permanently linked FAQ might stop this misinformation?
To the person posting as John Reinan, did you have an big salary in your five years with Gannett ending in 1996? That is, if I understood your post correctly.
ReplyDeleteI ask because I've been with the company 21 years, and my annuity offer based on 2003-2008 annual average is only $270 a month. And that's with, allegedly, $48,508 lump sum in the pension fund. How does $19,000 get you $319 a month? Rough relative calculations of our supposed lump sums in the kitty would put your salary back in 1991-1996 at more than $150,000 average annual salary then, relative to mine. I'm trying to validate the figures they gave me, but have little besides blind faith to rely on so far.
10:03: USA TODAY workers are too busy working their asses off to spend much time here. Plus, it has really become boring lately. Besides, this is just a playground for NJ and editorial people.
ReplyDelete12:12 AM
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you're digging into the pension thing. Good luck.