Norwegian paper opts for reorganization rather than redundancies: journalist to delivery person...

Posted by Betsey Reinsborough on November 18, 2009 at 3:42 PM

Aftenposten, Norway's most trusted newspaper, needs to cut 15 editorial positions, reports journalism.co.uk. In order to do so through voluntarily measures, the Schibsted-owned paper has offered all of its journalists redundancy packages, part-time positions, or reallocation to other jobs within the company- including work as a receptionist or newspaper delivery person.

The most amazing part, however, is what a paper deliverer in Norway can earn annually. The level of education is so high in Norway that there is often difficulty filling blue-collar job openings. Thus, the top paid delivery staff at Aftenpostern earned £80 000 in 2007 due to high wages and long hours. Normal hours at delivery work would still earn you about £40 000 a year.

In fact, two years ago when the shortage of delivery people was so bad, the editor-in-chief of the regional paper Tönsbergs Blad would deliver papers before coming into work each morning.

Potential employees were coaxed with such methods as providing company cars, Saturdays off, and good salaries.

Another reason for the shortages is the high rate of subscription in Norway. Many Norwegian papers have close to a 95 percent subscriber rate.

Another Schibsted paper, VG, Norway's largest newspaper, ran the headline 'Offer journalists newspaper delivery jobs' last week about Aftenposten's reorganization. This drew fire from Aftenposten, due to the intended connotation, which responded by saying that it was common practice to offer all available positions to redundant employees and VG's singling out of delivery workers was unfair.

Indeed, VG had taken similar measures in the past by offering laid off workers jobs as switchboard operators. VG editor-in-chief Bernt Olufsen adds that "unfortunately, we currently have no available newspaper delivery jobs."

Source: journalism.co.uk