FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that Meredith was cutting their employees’ pay from May 4th to September 4th.

The pay cuts will impact employees making over $50,000 a year.

Most will see their pay chopped by 15%. Employees making $100,000 or more will see deeper cuts.

But, what about employees that are working under a contract?

Meredith has a clause in their standard contract that reads like this:

18. Force Majeure

If Employer’s operations are suspended because of an act of God; act of war or terrorist action; accident; fire; lockout, strike, or other labor dispute; riot or civil commotion; act of public enemy; order or act of government; or other cause of similar nature beyond the control of Employer, Employer may suspend the performance of services by Employee and the payment of compensation hereunder while operations are suspended. No such suspension shall operate to extend the term of this Agreement.

But, since operations are not suspended, it seems that force Majeure can not be applied in this situation.

Meredith has not said anything publicly about employees that are under contract and judging by the email to FTVLive, a number of those people are wondering the same thing.

Also, the company has said they are instituting a hiring freeze. But, then the news came down (also, FIRST Reported by FTVLive) that Meredith owned KCTV (Kansas City) had parted ways with News Director Casey Clark.

In an email to the staff, KCTV GM Charlie Henrich said that he would begin a new search for a News Director “immediately.”

But wait! How can you hire a new ND when your company is under a hiring freeze?

Don’t be surprised if KCTV doesn’t fill this job for months, or they just bump up the Deuce.

Stay tuned…