IFJ Condemns "Fat Cat" Millions for New York Times Bosses as Staff Pay for Crisis in Jobs and Pay

The International Federation of Journalists today slammed the hypocrisy of New York Times company chiefs who took millions of dollars in extra pay while their journalists and media workers were having their salaries cut or being sacked. 

Furious staff at the Boston Globe have told the management of the New York Times Co, which owns the newspaper, that they want their money back after  last year's savage $10 million cut in payroll costs which management imposed after threatening to close the paper.

A recent report filed at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission showed that in 2009, New York Times Chief Executive Janet Robinson received a 32 percent pay rise, to $6.2 million, while the pay package of company Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr more than doubled to $5.9 million.

"Journalists and staff are right to be angry when they see that bosses help themselves to fat-cat salaries while cutting wages and showing the door to editorial staff," said Aidan White IFJ General Secretary. "It is a scandalous reflection on the double standards that employers use in the face of the media crisis."

A contract agreed last year after tough negotiations cut salaries by nearly 6 percent. It also included a pension freeze, a reduction in health care benefits and the elimination of lifetime job guarantees.

Now staff members at the Globe who are members of the Boston Newspaper Guild, a section of The Newspaper Guild-CWA which is affiliated to the IFJ, have written to Sulzberger and Robinson, saying they want to claw back the money they had to give up last year.

Last year's negotiations were carried out under the shadow of an ultimatum from management that closure was imminent. Some 50 editorial jobs cuts were announced in January with 40 more in the commercial departments. A programme of voluntary lay-offs has been put in place.

Now union members are saying their co-operation in facing the crisis has been betrayed by management greed. Their letter to management the union says "The recent SEC filings make it look like almost all of our sacrifices went to pay the two of you."

"No wonder they feel insulted and cheated after accepting harsh cuts to save the paper," said White. "It's time for industry employers to show more dignity and decency in the face of a crisis that is overwhelming media people everywhere."  

For more information contact the IFJ at     +32 2 235 22 07

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide