Globe and Mail seeks cost savings through temporary layoffs

The Globe and Mail told employees this afternoon that it needs 80 employees to volunteer for 3-month layoffs this summer in order to save costs.

If not enough people volunteer, the newspaper will aim to reach that target through involuntary layoffs, according to several Globe and Mail and union sources.

“The company is looking for immediate cost savings and has asked for voluntary temporary layoffs over the summer. The union is hopeful that there will be enough volunteers to meet the company’s needs,” said Sue Andrew, the Globe and Mail unit chair of the Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild. SONG, which is a branch of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union, also represents editorial staff at the Star.

The target figure of 80 employees is company wide, not just in the Globe’s editorial department.

The company said employees applying for the voluntary leave wouldn’t necessarily have their requests granted, and would be open to flexible work agreements such as part-time schedules.

The newspaper also announced that it will  begin charging for online content this fall.