Although the newspaper鈥檚 sale to Gatehouse Media is still pending, Register Guard employees have been asked to re-apply for their jobs. As KLCC鈥檚 Tiffany Eckert reports, some layoffs have already been announced.
Dick McHaffie has been an advertising sales representative with the Register-Guard for 13 years. On Wednesday, he got an offer to retain his job, after a 3 month probationary period. He says at least 4 employees have been laid off so far and the general mood at the paper is 鈥渁pprehensive.鈥�
Dick McHaffie: 鈥淲e feel like we鈥檝e been sold down the river. And who knows how long any of our positions are going to be available. If with Gatehouse, their track record is any indication, there鈥檚 going to be layoffs sooner rather than later.鈥�
McHaffie, who is also co-president of the Newspaper Guild, says Gatehouse has union contracts with several other newspapers they own around the country.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a matter of time before we start bargaining a contract.鈥�
The sale of the Baker family-owned newspaper is expected to close at the end of the month.
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