Union critical of Reuters

The Newspaper Guild of New York has posted a stoy on its website that is critical of a move by Reuters management recently to impose “performance incentive plans” to underperforming journalists.

The guild writes, “There’s little question about why this is happening. We’ve been hearing since last year that the Adler Editorial management team wants to ‘manage out’ veteran Reuters staff so they can hire more shiny new ‘stars.’ When asked directly about this at a March 15 staff meeting in Washington, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Paul Ingrassia denied this was the case. Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler has repeatedly said the idea is not to get rid of those who perform the essential journalistic work our clients depend on, but to add more in-depth coverage.

“If that is true, it hasn’t filtered down to the lower ranks of management, where unrealistic objectives, threatening meetings with Guild members and a speed-up of progressive discipline are the new rule. We noted in our April 3 Common Sense that the Guild had two grievances related to these issues. Since then, we’ve since filed nine more and there are a lot more coming. We’re watching the situation closely.

“If your manager gives you a PIP and/or a verbal warning related to a performance issue, know your rights. You have a right to have a Guild representative present at any meeting with your manager regarding discipline. You have the right to interrupt the meeting for a private conversation with your Guild representative. You have a right to refuse to sign the PIP.”

Read more here.