AP layoffs total at least 71

Posted by Betsey Reinsborough on November 19, 2009 at 5:52 PM

As reported earlier, the Associated Press has been holding a series of layoffs this week. Though the official totals are still unavailable, there are some numbers coming in. According to the News Media Guild, which represents 1 300 of the AP's 4 000 employees, 71 AP union members have been laid off this week, reports Editor & Publisher.

In addition to the 57 Guild members laid off on Tuesday, 14 union employees reportedly got pink slips yesterday. Thus far those let go include 42 newspersons, 22 editorial assistants, 6 photographer, and an office assistant. The Guild does not have any numbers for the amount of non-Guild members or managerial staff laid off this week.

The New York City office took the brunt of the layoffs having had a reported 20 staff laid off Tuesday. Other affected offices include Washington, D.C.; Syracuse, New York; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Dayton, Ohio; Roanoke, Virginia; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Jacksonville, Florida.

The layoffs are part of the AP's attempt to slash their payroll by 10 percent and follow the buyout of 100 employees earlier this year.

According to a notice put out by the Guild, the layoffs are not over yet: "Guild members, citing managers, have reported that more people may lose their jobs Thursday. The AP has not informed the union about future staff reductions, despite Guild requests for information. AP has not provided any assurance to the union that the company is 'finished' with this current round of staff reductions."

Source: Editor & Publisher (1), Editor & Publisher (2)