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Warner Bros. Slashing 10% of Workforce

600 workers to be laid off; 300 jobs to be outsourced

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 20, 2009 8:19 PM CST
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(Newser) – Even the Dark Knight is no match for this economy. Warner Bros. is cutting 800 jobs across all levels of the firm, shrinking its workforce by 10%, the Wall Street Journal reports. That means 600 employees will have to leave, with 300 departing in the next few weeks. The rest will face gradual layoffs over the next two years as their jobs are outsourced to a Paris consulting firm, which will sign workers in India and Poland.

“We are very sad to announce that based on the global economic situation and current business forecasts, the studio will have to make staff reductions in the coming weeks in order to control costs,” Warner's CEO and its studio president wrote in a memo today.

Barry M. Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., seated between actress Diane Keaton, right, and Bradley Whitford, left, at an Obama-Clinton debate.
Barry M. Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., seated between actress Diane Keaton, right, and Bradley Whitford, left, at an Obama-Clinton debate.   (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Sylvester the cat, Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Tazmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny in a 2006 file photo.
Sylvester the cat, Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Tazmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny in a 2006 file photo.   (Getty Images)
President & COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Alan Horn attends the 2008 National Board of Review awards gala at Cipriani on January 14, 2009 in New York City.
President & COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment Alan Horn attends the 2008 National Board of Review awards gala at Cipriani on January 14, 2009 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Shannonals
Jan 20, 2009 10:16 PM CST
you know the economy is bad when Bugs Bunny gets a pink slip

Media firms feel the pinch
Los Angeles Times

 
layoffs • outsourcing • Warner Brothers • film studio • downturn

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