The Inbox... Tegna Employees React

FTVLive has been featuring emails from the TV news trenches.

This is one Tegna employee here in Jacksonville and their take on the furloughs hitting the company:

Long-time reader, first-time writer. Love your work, just wanted to vent.

I’m keeping the furlough thing in perspective, The (Jacksonville newspaper) Times-Union writers down the street are having to take one week a month and we’re being asked to take one week in the next three months.

I can survive a week without pay, though it would be tough, but I’m not sure how I could do a week a month. I have a lot of respect for them.

I’m in a group chat with other Tegna employees at different stations. All our GMs are reading rehearsed scripts to us at the same time. Saying it would be “tone deaf” to complain publicly because so many are without jobs or benefits, that we shouldn’t be talking about the company’s business publicly, etc.

At least management is getting temporary pay decreases. Lougee is taking a 25 percent temp. pay cut, other top execs are getting pay cuts as well. That’ll really hit the wallet until a sale goes through and they cash out big time.

Not one to complain here, I love my job, co-workers and community. I damn sure am lucky to have a steady job, and the furloughs could have been done in a worse manner. But this still feels like hitting us to keep the pockets lined upstairs.

Just my opinion.

And here is another TV newsies take on the cuts:

Scott-

Just a note about TEGNA furloughs from a current employee:

One week is worth it if it saves other people’s jobs. With millions of people currently without a job, no one in their right mind should complain... considering when Gray bought Raycom there were layoffs at every station, including some high profiled anchors. Reporters were also let go.

Not surprised Gray says there won’t be furloughs. Those cuts have already been made. So, we should be grateful we haven’t been given pink slips.

Also, many employees (reporters/photogs/editors/producers) will receive the stimulus check.

Thanks for reading.

And there is this one:

Let’s be honest about Tegna’s furloughs This company was in serious trouble before this virus hit.

Just look at their stock prices over the past several months.

The virus is an excuse to grab more cash from its employees.

Just watch, Gray and other ownership groups won’t be doing this. That says a lot about Tegna.

Killing journalism in the Tegna newsrooms in favor of comedians and clowns might have been a bad idea. What a shock.

And one more:

If you do some research you will find that in 2008-2009 when Tegna did furloughs, the Board of Directors, GM's etc also agreed to pay cuts.

BUT, then they got year-end bonuses that more than made up for their losses. What is likely to happen this time is that people will take their furloughs to avoid layoffs. Then, they'll be asked to take another furlough in the next quarter. T

hen Tegna will end up selling to Apollo or whatever. Dave Lougee will get a nice golden parachute and people will be laid-off by Apollo any way.

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