Merc Layoffs: Has MNG's "efficiency" gambit gone too far?

Who can argue with being more efficient? Not me. But I know when enough is enough. That would be, say, right about the time when it starts taking chunks out of the core of a news enterprise. Like now, when another round of layoffs have left people even more demoralized. What happened to the promise when MediaNews took over the Contra Costa Times and the San Jose Merc: No Layoffs. Yeah right.

"Efficiency" is just doublespeak for management's quest for the bottom line, no matter what (does anyone still believe management when they say they are losing money? The translation is that they're dropping below the outrageous profit margins of the past). That bottom line is bogus because it' the takeover of one paper after another that landed us here. It seems each time MediaNews gobbles up another paper, people get laid off.

Efficiency is fine -- but not when management starts slashing with little regard for the quality of the reporting. You have to wonder at what point the cuts are too damaging to the core...and when management is being "pennywise and pound foolish."

It's hard to see our colleagues being laid off. And it's tough knowing those who are left behind will likely be expected to do more - or at least the same - with less.

Unfortunately, no union can stop ownership from making layoffs. But at least folks are not hanging out in the cold.

You can see for yourselves in the Guild FAQ's, "with Guild representation staffers have been able to negotiate contract language to lessen the blow of layoffs." You all remember the first round after the takeover, right? And that was before we really got rolling.

We can't bring them back but we won't let them just go without pressing on for quality AND efficiency.