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Gannett Forces Workers to Take Unpaid Leave

Move will avoid layoffs in newsrooms: company

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Jan 14, 2009 3:41 PM CST

(Newser) – America's largest newspaper publisher will require most of its 31,000 employees to take an unpaid week off this quarter, the New York Times reports. Gannett owns 85 newspapers in the US—including USA Today—that, like much of the industry, are under serious financial duress. The company says the move could prevent future layoffs. Union workers can't legally be made to take off, but they are being asked to comply.

“Most of our U.S. employees—including myself and all other top executives—will be furloughed for the equivalent of one week in the first quarter,” wrote Gannett chief Craig A. Dubow.

The week-long furlough will keep operations running smoothly otherwise, company officials said today.
The week-long furlough will keep operations running smoothly otherwise, company officials said today.   (AP Photo)
Like much of the publishing industry, Gannett is suffering from drops in ad sales.
Like much of the publishing industry, Gannett is suffering from drops in ad sales.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
The news comes as the Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy and several other papers nationwide threaten to shut down.
The news comes as the Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy and several other papers nationwide threaten to shut down.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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