This afternoon around 3:30, about 375 New York Times staffers walked out in an effort to protest management’s handling of contract negotiations. “We’re trying to save the essence of The New York Times,” said Metro columnist Michael Powell. Staffers wore stickers that read “Believe us.” and walked from the building’s 40th St. entrance, up Eighth Ave. to the entrance on 41st St. Read more

Just like we thought, the Newspaper Guild of New York has something to say about recently departed New York Times Company CEO Janet Robinson getting her full pension two years before she was eligible to get it. The union published an open letter to Arthur Sulzberger Jr. demanding that if Robinson was getting her pension, then he should drop the pension freeze on all guild members.

A note announcing the union’s position begins, “The last 24 hours have brought stunning news about several recent decisions by Arthur — moves that have angered and dismayed those of us who work for the Times and care about its direction.”

The entire letter is available below and at Saveourtimes.com.

Read more

The Newspaper Guild of New York isn’t too happy with the huge “consulting fee” departing New York Times CEO Janet Robinson is getting next year. Buried in yesterday’s abrupt announcement that Robinson was leaving the paper was the news that she was getting a $4.5 million payment in 2012. As you can imagine, this struck the Guild as a bit odd, all things considered.

The Guild’s President, Bill O’Meara, told Romenesko that Robinson’s payment was a surprise, and “they’re not happy about that when the company is still demanding major givebacks, including a freeze in the pension plan.”

“They’re offering basically no raises and lots of cutbacks,” continued O’Meara. “They want people to work a longer work week with no increase in compensation.”