This is another sad day at the Los Angeles Times as we throw ten pressmen and presswomen to the curb through layoffs. And it’s no wonder my colleagues and I have nothing but disdain for our Tribune masters as they ask for forty-two million in bonuses for six hundred and forty managers and executives. The timing could not be any UN- timelier, couldn't they wait till the layoffs are completed?
The following pressroom employees will spend their last day at the newspaper today.
Otis Miller
Poncho Elegino
David Rascon
George Sanchez
Victor Flores
Scott Bodily
Al Albanes
Keith Hutchins
Wayne Padelford
Paula Henley
To those who took the time, to share your knowledge, your friendship, and your work ethic.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of it all, you will always be the best of Times' women and men as have been those before you and will be those after.
I commend you. Thanks for the comaraderie.
I could not bear the courage to say good-bye to most of my friends during my last shift. I do not take farewells to good. Iam proud of the opportunity I had to work with some of the finest men and women of the pressroom. Thank you for the good old times, I had so much fun knowing you and learning from you. I will always cherish those moments. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAl Albanes
I am very sorry to hear about the recent layoffs. I would offer a word of advice to those of you still left, prepare yourself, be proactive. You can't rely on anyone protecting you but yourself. Education and improved skill are the key to employment. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. I left in '09 and have been very fortunate but it is because I went back to school before the lay off and increased my knowledge and skills. Take a look around you and see what jobs are in high demand.
ReplyDeleteSemper Fi!
So sorry to hear about this. I almost made the Times a career way back when after I graduated from Cal Poly in '83, another recession time when unemployment was over 9%. This was way before the internet (Craig's List etc.) and people were still buying classified ads so newspaper work was relatively safe. I went a different direction maybe for the better, maybe not. These are such uncertain times. Good luck to my old friend Scott Bodily from the paper gang.
ReplyDeleteHowdy guys!
ReplyDeleteI still miss walking through the Second St. entrance and hearing R press screaming at 60,000 per. It's been a while since I left in '82. Things were changing then too. We went from lead to plastic to offset so quick it still makes my head spin. R and T presses were being ripped out and the old comic press was long gone. We were running comics on Q by then.
Maybe a few of my old co-workers are still working. I sure would like to see the new Alameda plant.
Jim Robertson
2nd Color Extradinaire ;D