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October 11, 2008 11:28:46 PM CDT

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Strike Keeps Le Monde Off Newsstands

Posted Apr 15, 08 6:19 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Le Monde was absent from French streets today for the first time in more than 30 years as staff went on strike at the debt-ridden newspaper. In the ongoing battle over the future of the prestigious evening title, which saw the editor-in-chief pushed out, management is now trying to eliminate 130 jobs, or 25% of journalists. That was too much for staff, who walked off, reports the Times of London.

Despite its position as the most respected paper in France, Le Monde has not turned a profit for seven years and carries a debt of $237 million. Looming over this week's job action is the possibility of a takeover bid by two minority shareholders, one of which is owned by a bosom buddy of Nicolas Sarkozy. Le Monde's staff still control a majority stake in the title.

Source Times (UK)

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French daily Le Monde employees gather front of the building during a rare strike at the paper over plans to eliminate 130 jobs, in Paris, Monday, April 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The waiting room at the offices of Le Monde. A job action kept the title off newsstands for the first time in over 30 years.   ((c) luc legay)
A job action kept Le Monde off newsstands for the first time in over 30 years.   ((c) zugaldia)
A Parisian newsstand. A job action kept Le Monde off newsstands for the first time in over 30 years.   ((c) Joe Shlabotnik)
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France  • Nicolas Sarkozy  • newspaper  • strike  • layoffs  • Le Monde


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