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The Union-Tribune is a chaotic place now. Involuntary layoffs loom as others who took the voluntary package are packing to depart before yearend. One rumor zooming around the newsroom makes sense: that Gene Bell, president of the Union-Tribune, is retiring. Bell has worked in the newspaper business for more than 47 years, and has headed the U-T since 1992. He is older than Harold W. (Hal) Fuson, Jr., who took over as chief operating officer of the Copley empire last spring. But the Copley empire is now down to the Union-Tribune plus a few tiny things. There is simply no need for both Fuson and Bell, as the Reader pointed out last spring. Today, as the rumor of Bell's possible departure spreads, employees are chuckling that he won't get the same chintzy layoff package that they are accepting. According to a number of sources (who admit they could be wrong), only about 25 people in the newsroom accepted the layoff package. The U-T wants 43 gone. If these rumors are true, that means the U-T will have to lay off around 18 people from the newsroom; they will have to accept a still-lower pay package than others are receiving. Meanwhile, employees are also chuckling about a message from owner David Copley, in which was enclosed a modest grocery gift certificate normally given at Christmas time. The message praised the employees but made no mention of the layoffs.
The Union-Tribune is a chaotic place now. Involuntary layoffs loom as others who took the voluntary package are packing to depart before yearend. One rumor zooming around the newsroom makes sense: that Gene Bell, president of the Union-Tribune, is retiring. Bell has worked in the newspaper business for more than 47 years, and has headed the U-T since 1992. He is older than Harold W. (Hal) Fuson, Jr., who took over as chief operating officer of the Copley empire last spring. But the Copley empire is now down to the Union-Tribune plus a few tiny things. There is simply no need for both Fuson and Bell, as the Reader pointed out last spring. Today, as the rumor of Bell's possible departure spreads, employees are chuckling that he won't get the same chintzy layoff package that they are accepting. According to a number of sources (who admit they could be wrong), only about 25 people in the newsroom accepted the layoff package. The U-T wants 43 gone. If these rumors are true, that means the U-T will have to lay off around 18 people from the newsroom; they will have to accept a still-lower pay package than others are receiving. Meanwhile, employees are also chuckling about a message from owner David Copley, in which was enclosed a modest grocery gift certificate normally given at Christmas time. The message praised the employees but made no mention of the layoffs.