The Star is firing everyone

kuba · 11-05-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy_McFlash

Uh, send someone the draft and let them have at it? Same as you do with insourced editing.

To India?

Boss Hog · 11-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Do you know why India is getting this, and more?

No unions.

Yep.

Flashy_McFlash · 11-05-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuba

To India?

Why not if it's cheaper?

Do you have any idea how much administrative work is outsourced to there? Not just child labour or call centre work but making spreadsheets, Word docs, financial services, etc etc.

This is the CEO of one of the bigger companies that do this.
India's OfficeTiger: Hear It Roar

Boss Hog · 11-05-2009, 02:41 PM

I smell the north american labour ego gettiing a little bruised.

dr. claw · 11-05-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Vega

Your cutting edge advice is just the tip of the iceberg. Though I fear most of us have yet to face the music. Let's go back to the drawing board to create an exit strategy that pushes the envelope. It's not rocket science. We just need to think outside the box a little.

I'm already making overtures to either start gorfing cock for money or work at the brass rail.

glych t.anomaly · 11-05-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr. claw

I'm already making overtures to either start gorfing cock for money or work at the brass rail.

tee hee gorfing

thats awesome.

*lofchuckle*

[jai]

Rajio · 11-05-2009, 02:46 PM

why cant it be both?

can i use your staff discount?

dg0425 · 11-05-2009, 02:49 PM

I'm working with a microsoft employed sql expert on an issue. I think they're charging us $200-300 an hour for the guy and guess where he is.........india of course. I bet he makes $10-15 and hour. He's pretty damn good actually.

acheron · 11-05-2009, 02:50 PM

I wish we could outsource the TTC to India. They really know how to move people over there.

Ms. Fit · 11-05-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Vega

Your cutting edge advice is just the tip of the iceberg. Though I fear most of us have yet to face the music. Let's go back to the drawing board to create an exit strategy that pushes the envelope. It's not rocket science. We just need to think outside the box a little.

ahahaha! ok ok, i did go a bit overboard on the cliches, but i bet it took you a lot longer to put that paragraph together than me. ahaha

gsnuff · 11-05-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincent vega

your cutting edge advice is just the tip of the iceberg. Though i fear most of us have yet to face the music. Let's go back to the drawing board to create an exit strategy that pushes the envelope. It's not rocket science. We just need to think outside the box a little.

+50

el presidente Highsteppa · 11-05-2009, 10:39 PM

I knew someone that worked in The Star classifieds not that long ago - feel bad for her knowing that this has probably already happened to her or is about to. But seems like this is happening the world over with most papers these days.

Aerius Zension · 11-06-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el presidente Highsteppa

I knew someone that worked in The Star classifieds not that long ago - feel bad for her knowing that this has probably already happened to her or is about to. But seems like this is happening the world over with most papers these days.

This is why I moved from print classifieds business to online. If you can't beat em, join em.

Flashy_McFlash · 11-06-2009, 10:42 AM

Why would any right-thinking person use a print classified (and PAY for it!) rather than use craigslist or kijiji?

Boss Hog · 11-06-2009, 10:45 AM

Probably a few people over 50.

Rajio · 11-06-2009, 10:47 AM

if you want to scam old people - use print classifieds.

kerouacdude · 11-25-2009, 12:43 PM

Toronto Star to cut 121 positions
Newspaper to contract out production work
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | 11:33 AM ET Comments3Recommend7
The Canadian Press

Management at the Toronto Star newspaper has filed formal notice of a plan to contract out newsroom production work and cut 121 jobs in a bid to save more than $4 million a year.

"At a time of unprecedented business nightmares facing the Star and our industry — and despite the many operational challenges associated with outsourcing — we believe there are sound business reasons for this proposal," Star editor Michael Cooke wrote in a memo to employees on Monday.

The move calls for cutting 70 full-time and eight part-time editorial jobs to tighten costs at Canada's largest circulation daily paper, which has 390 employees in its editorial department. The round of cuts could also affect 39 full-time and four part-time pre-publishing technicians. Parent company Torstar Corp. plans to contract out editing work to Pagemasters North America, a unit of The Canadian Press, according to Toronto Star spokesman Bob Hepburn.

The union at the newspaper now has 30 days to propose alternatives to avoid or alter either the contracting out of the work or the eventual layoff of staff.

"If we cannot agree on an alternative, and the outsourcing proceeds, no one in the newsroom will receive a layoff notice until January at the earliest," Cooke wrote.

Maureen Dawson, chairwoman of the Toronto Star unit of the Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild, said that the outsourcing of editorial jobs would clash with the Star's principles.

"The Star has this social voice in Canada that we're for the working class,... and so at the first sign of distress, they throw their own workers under the bus," she said.

"The government is spending billions on keeping jobs here [in Canada] and we're sending jobs away. I think it's shortsighted for the paper and for the employees."

Earlier this month, the Star announced what its publisher said would likely be the biggest restructuring in the newspaper's history and began offering voluntary buyouts to employees in all divisions of the company.

The severance packages are being offered to both union and non-union members in all departments. Employees will have until Nov. 30 to apply for the buyouts, with the final details being ironed out in the new year.

The Star employs about 1,300 staff across all its divisions, including its press centre in Vaughan.
In the third quarter, Torstar reported a modest profit of $4 million compared with a year-ago loss of $740,000. Revenues totalled $343.7 million, down 7.4 per cent from $371.3 million.

acheron · 11-25-2009, 01:02 PM

I have to wonder what portion of torstar's revenue comes from the paper itself - they print a hell of a lot of other papers as well and run a distribution arm that until recently was quite busy...

Sal De Ban · 11-25-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashy_McFlash

Uh, send someone the draft and let them have at it? Same as you do with insourced editing.

a big responsibility and liability to be divesting outside, no? Can't trust everyone.

Flashy_McFlash · 11-25-2009, 02:09 PM

There are literally shitloads of jobs meeting that description that are farmed out.

Aerius Zension · 11-25-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acheron

I have to wonder what portion of torstar's revenue comes from the paper itself - they print a hell of a lot of other papers as well and run a distribution arm that until recently was quite busy...

There's bigger printers than Torstar, and bigger newspaper printers than them (Transcon, Canwest, Quebecor)

Internet isn't safe either. AOL is cutting 35% (2,500) staff too.

acheron · 11-25-2009, 03:58 PM

sure, but really I do want to know - I mean eventually the Star will fall back to web-only and this begs the question of what they will do with their printing/distro operation. It's a big building, very large output, can't just shut that shit down. Maybe Transcon will buy them.

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11-05-2009, 02:39 PM	#27
Boss Hog Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: applying for the high school get-along gang Posts: 51,269	Do you know why India is getting this, and more? No unions. Yep.

11-05-2009, 02:41 PM	#29
Boss Hog Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: applying for the high school get-along gang Posts: 51,269	I smell the north american labour ego gettiing a little bruised.

11-05-2009, 02:46 PM	#32
Rajio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: From inside the house! Posts: 13,080	why cant it be both? can i use your staff discount?

11-05-2009, 02:49 PM	#33
dg0425 TRIBE Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: greenwood Posts: 1,514	I'm working with a microsoft employed sql expert on an issue. I think they're charging us $200-300 an hour for the guy and guess where he is.........india of course. I bet he makes $10-15 and hour. He's pretty damn good actually.

11-05-2009, 02:50 PM	#34
acheron TRIBE Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Aisle 7 Posts: 18,235	I wish we could outsource the TTC to India. They really know how to move people over there.

11-05-2009, 10:39 PM	#37
el presidente Highsteppa TRIBE Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Carpe testes e yazz floote. Posts: 44,575	I knew someone that worked in The Star classifieds not that long ago - feel bad for her knowing that this has probably already happened to her or is about to. But seems like this is happening the world over with most papers these days.

11-06-2009, 10:42 AM	#39
Flashy_McFlash Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 51,857	Why would any right-thinking person use a print classified (and PAY for it!) rather than use craigslist or kijiji?

11-06-2009, 10:45 AM	#40
Boss Hog Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: applying for the high school get-along gang Posts: 51,269	Probably a few people over 50.

11-06-2009, 10:47 AM	#41
Rajio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: From inside the house! Posts: 13,080	if you want to scam old people - use print classifieds.

11-25-2009, 12:43 PM	#42
kerouacdude TRIBE Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: America. Making it skinny again, one slap at a time. Posts: 8,232	Toronto Star to cut 121 positions Newspaper to contract out production work Last Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 \| 11:33 AM ET Comments3Recommend7 The Canadian Press Management at the Toronto Star newspaper has filed formal notice of a plan to contract out newsroom production work and cut 121 jobs in a bid to save more than $4 million a year. "At a time of unprecedented business nightmares facing the Star and our industry — and despite the many operational challenges associated with outsourcing — we believe there are sound business reasons for this proposal," Star editor Michael Cooke wrote in a memo to employees on Monday. The move calls for cutting 70 full-time and eight part-time editorial jobs to tighten costs at Canada's largest circulation daily paper, which has 390 employees in its editorial department. The round of cuts could also affect 39 full-time and four part-time pre-publishing technicians. Parent company Torstar Corp. plans to contract out editing work to Pagemasters North America, a unit of The Canadian Press, according to Toronto Star spokesman Bob Hepburn. The union at the newspaper now has 30 days to propose alternatives to avoid or alter either the contracting out of the work or the eventual layoff of staff. "If we cannot agree on an alternative, and the outsourcing proceeds, no one in the newsroom will receive a layoff notice until January at the earliest," Cooke wrote. Maureen Dawson, chairwoman of the Toronto Star unit of the Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild, said that the outsourcing of editorial jobs would clash with the Star's principles. "The Star has this social voice in Canada that we're for the working class,... and so at the first sign of distress, they throw their own workers under the bus," she said. "The government is spending billions on keeping jobs here [in Canada] and we're sending jobs away. I think it's shortsighted for the paper and for the employees." Earlier this month, the Star announced what its publisher said would likely be the biggest restructuring in the newspaper's history and began offering voluntary buyouts to employees in all divisions of the company. The severance packages are being offered to both union and non-union members in all departments. Employees will have until Nov. 30 to apply for the buyouts, with the final details being ironed out in the new year. The Star employs about 1,300 staff across all its divisions, including its press centre in Vaughan. In the third quarter, Torstar reported a modest profit of $4 million compared with a year-ago loss of $740,000. Revenues totalled $343.7 million, down 7.4 per cent from $371.3 million.

11-25-2009, 01:02 PM	#43
acheron TRIBE Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Aisle 7 Posts: 18,235	I have to wonder what portion of torstar's revenue comes from the paper itself - they print a hell of a lot of other papers as well and run a distribution arm that until recently was quite busy...

11-25-2009, 02:09 PM	#45
Flashy_McFlash Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 51,857	There are literally shitloads of jobs meeting that description that are farmed out.

11-25-2009, 03:58 PM	#47
acheron TRIBE Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Aisle 7 Posts: 18,235	sure, but really I do want to know - I mean eventually the Star will fall back to web-only and this begs the question of what they will do with their printing/distro operation. It's a big building, very large output, can't just shut that shit down. Maybe Transcon will buy them.