Just read @Baltimoremag's one-year anniversary story on the shooting at The Capital on June 28 and I wanted to highlight one particular line regarding the @ChesapeakeGuild.
I was still at The Capital when we organized and this was definitely a difficult decision. pic.twitter.com/0zRjyfs6oB
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
We talked about whether it would appear unfair to Tribune Media to organize in the months after the shooting given they could be subject to even more public pushback than normal if they denied our request. But we also still had other community newspapers that were involved. 2/?
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
We'd made it a point that the Sun Media community papers would organize as a group. Before we were officially recognized, there were also extensive talks about what we would do if they tried to split us up into individual units. We didn't have to, but we thought we might. 3/?
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
From what I remember, we decided to keep moving forward because we didn't feel as though management would meet the needs of the entire group, even as they were being accommodating to us at The Capital in other ways (Paying for therapy, offering help, etc.) https://t.co/MySlI7RpfE pic.twitter.com/AX6nh0nXbE
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
I point all of this out to say that @ChesapeakeGuild is still in contract negotiations and yet, when the company knows multiple newsrooms have organized largely over inadequate pay, it took $56M in spare cash and gave it to shareholders https://t.co/mQxZy17Unf
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
Some people are going to read this Baltimore Magazine story and it'll evoke an emotional response based on the grief and pain the event caused and that's absolutely ok and warranted. It's certainly still hard for me to read about some of my colleague's pain again.
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
But I ask that, when you read this story, do so with the context that those reporters CONTINUED to fight to have your communities supported by strong newsrooms.
And Tribune (2-year anniversary of our now dead "tronc" logo!) is still prioritizing shareholders over employees. pic.twitter.com/ttPwLKvre4
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
So lemme join in to the chorus of my co-workers at both @capgaznews and @baltimoresun in saying this company needs to pay its reporters a livable wage in order for citizens to get the best reporting for its communities.
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 2, 2019
Because, at the end of the day, despite this being an industry focused on humanity, sometimes you have to yell at your employer that your grief shouldn't be referenced as only a financial cost in a short press release while we're busy negotiating our livelihoods. pic.twitter.com/ljCAIdMuDH
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
That's the end of my /thread rant.
We lamented over seeming opportunistic and Tribune gave Michael Ferro, the former CEO who resigned before being accused of sexual misconduct, $13.6M because he still owns a bunch of stock.
Support the employees who support you, Tribune.
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
Actually, one more thing because I <3 statistics adding context.
If you took just the $13.6M awarded to Michael Ferro and divided it evenly among ~8,000 employees (best metric I could find for total # of Tribune employees), you could give each a $1,700 bonus this year.
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
And ask a Tribune employee how much an additional $1,700, even just once, could help them with their personal finances.
Meanwhile, they paid the guy who used to lease his own private jet to Tribune WHILE HE WAS TRIBUNE'S (then Tronc) CHAIRMAN $13.6M. https://t.co/nl02UWX0MU
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
(It's hard to stop when Tribune just offers you SO MUCH)
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
Oh, and if this thread is reaching "tl;dr" territory, I have a arbitrarily x-shaped funnel that might help out with that: pic.twitter.com/Y4ghqqNHqi
— Phil Davis (@PDavis_LLC) June 3, 2019
Important thread about the newspaper business in 2019. While reporters at @ChesapeakeGuild are organizing for decent wages & employment protections, the Tribune Co. just disbursed $56m to shareholders from the $100m in cash it's sitting on.
Squeezing workers to pay stockholders. https://t.co/NJei0MJhDM— Michael Socolow (@MichaelSocolow) June 3, 2019
I've been too outraged at what what Tribune did last week to post any coherent thoughts. Phil @PDavis_LLC says it all. https://t.co/4yD3PiIAAl
— Joshua McKerrow (@joshuamckerrow) June 3, 2019
Part of thread from Ex Annapolis Capital staffer – notes TRIB Publishing paid out major millions to shareholders while trying to hold line on costs of paper’s union negotiations. Disgraced ex chairman Michael Ferro scores many millions. 👇🏼 https://t.co/6KpsIy3gNE
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) June 3, 2019
Michael Ferro's $13.6M share of that dividend from Tribune Publishing could pay 180 journalists a salary of $75,000 for an entire year. Priorities. https://t.co/gxHgdK7QPY
— Darren Carroll (@darrendcarroll) June 1, 2019
… or nearly double that with PSS's share 😳
— Jay L. Clendenin (JLCvisuals) (@jaylclendenin) June 1, 2019
Just 2 share holders receive over 26 million dollars. What has not been said, is this tax free.
— Harley Doss (@Canian23Doss) June 2, 2019
Just a giant middle finger to every hardworking journalist toiling under the @tribpub brand. https://t.co/8iwL5zqisD
— David Thomas (@DaveThomas5150) May 31, 2019
Yep, absolutely. Make sure Michael Ferro gets nearly $14 million in a needless dividend. Meanwhile, over the past 15 months ending 3/31, @tribpub has eliminated 929 (929!) positions, according to SEC filings https://t.co/OzgmwVrpN7
— Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) May 30, 2019
Just did the math. The layoffs accounted for 18% of their workforce. So, yeah, a $56 million, one-time dividend makes perfect sense for a company that's pink-slipped nearly one in five of its workers
— Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) May 31, 2019
.@tribpub's board, which approved this special dividend, consists of a grand total of 6 directors. Among them are Carol Crenshaw, who recently retired as CFO of Chicago Community Trust, where she was employed for 35 years
— Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) May 31, 2019
Here's how Trib's proxy describes Chicago Community Trust: "A community foundation dedicated to improving the Chicagoland region through strategic grantmaking, civic engagement and inspiring philanthropy." Inspiring!
— Steve Daniels (@stevedaniels27) May 31, 2019
Hey @chicagotribune where does the money from you pay wall subscribers go to? You report on Chicago corruption yet you are as much of a corrupt institution. I feel so bad for the 929 talented & brilliant people that lost their job to corporate greed. https://t.co/uQrxCxNQCA
— jenn Ⓧ (@jennrichter) May 31, 2019
Cc @tribpub
— jenn Ⓧ (@jennrichter) May 31, 2019
Have they recently taken a loan? Would love to know if the source of funds was from a loan. Wouldn’t surprise me given how covenants are getting loose again.
— DJPazar (@danzar1985) May 31, 2019
Tribune Publishing:
– pays journalists in @baltsunguild LESS THAN A LIVING WAGE;
– has REFUSED TO PROVIDE COST OF LIVING INCREASES for years;
– continues to DUMP MILLIONS INTO THE POCKETS of people like Michael Ferro, this time w/ a special cash dividend: https://t.co/GEL8riA88T— Kevin Rector (@RectorSun) May 31, 2019
Tribune: We have so much money, we can give millions away!@baltsunguild: You mean to the workers?!
Tribune: No, let them eat cake.@baltsunguild: Did you say cake? pic.twitter.com/gpkNGeorF6— Kevin Rector (@RectorSun) May 31, 2019
The country was built upon this dynamic, and it thrives to this day. Good luck with the fight!!! It’s going on all over the country.
— Marlena Jareaux (@MJareaux) May 31, 2019
Another example of #predatorycapitalism
— Dr. Karen Hanson (@karenhanson) May 31, 2019
In shareholders vs stakeholders the former usually, and rightly, gets the nod. Capital at risk (aka equity) has its privledges.
— John McNulty (@PEProMagazine) May 31, 2019
Hey, .@tribpub pay these folks, too. They deserve it. #GuildStrong ✊🏼 https://t.co/yn4CCU7pzJ
— Candy Thomson (@CandyThomson1) May 31, 2019
A lesson @tribpub still doesn’t seem to get. Company is shelling out $56M “special cash dividend” to shareholders while starving its newsrooms.
This is another example of why we organized @CTGuild. https://t.co/wNIo5Yq7x9
— Michael Hawthorne (@scribeguy) June 2, 2019