From: Matt Pearce
To: Executive Committee
Sent: Thu, May 6, 2021 2:58 pm
Subject: GUILD: Notice of buyout offers at the L.A. Times
Colleagues,
Guild vice president Alex Wigglesworth and I were informed by management this afternoon that the company is now accepting inquiries from Guild members and others who may be interested in taking a buyout. Those interested may email HR at maya.dotson@latimes.com and lena.bradshaw@latimes.com.
We were explicitly told that this is not a precursor to layoffs. Management’s stated reason is that they had received some inquiries from staffers about when the company might offer a buyout program again. They said they planned to individually reach out to staffers who had applied for but not taken previous buyouts.
Under our contract, voluntary buyout programs are allowed following this kind of notice to Guild leadership per Article 10, Section 1. Buyout takers must be offered at minimum the enhanced Guild severance per Article 11, Section 2(b) and the Enhanced Severance Separation Agreement and General Release (Appendix E).
One last thing: We know it’s unorthodox to hear this news from us instead of management. It’s their buyout program, not ours. However, our recent work-from-home survey indicated some of you were looking to leave the company, so this might be an opportunity to leave on your terms with some change in your pocket. In that context, it seems only fair for us as a union to let everyone know the opportunity exists.
This is all the information we have; if you have further questions, direct them to the HR contacts listed above. In the meantime, we look forward to meeting with our new editor Kevin Merida and hearing his plan for our newsroom.
In solidarity,
Matt and Alex
President and Vice President of Media Guild of the West, NewsGuild-CWA Local 39213
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