Sunday, January 25, 2009

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

We are back, with an update (Jan 15)

...and we are coughing up a storm. Welcome to Elmira in Upstate New York, where chest colds are our signature product.

The Presario is back and it's been cleaned. We actually lost the hard drive to the broken Windows. Or was it the other way around?

I've just come from 13 days straight working, followed by 5 days off, then back to normal. At this point it is clear that they are eliminating jobs right and left. The paper features classifieds only five days per week, and some more publications are being eliminated.

After working a few weekends I can see why they eliminated that job. What a crashing bore! I even got sick of taking breaks. We still need the two of us, but I am not so sure we need both of us on full time. Since they offered part time to other axed coworkers, it is possible that may be what awaits.

I would sorely miss the vacation and holiday pay, but if that is what it takes, then so be it. After all, I am not relying on the health benefits. Other fringe benefits are also disappearing, one by one. I feel sorry for anyone who was using Gannett to go to school, because that is done.

Another possible worry: one week's unpaid furlough is making the rounds of the rumor mill.

Heigh-ho. Anxiety is becoming the norm around here.

Update: we are being furloughed, one day at a time, five days over ten weeks. Salaried personnel lose a week straight. One girl is planning on consoling herself in Florida during her furlough.

pb
Little Pond