Union says Reuters job cuts total 45

The Newspaper Guild of New York, which represents business journalists at Reuters, reports Monday that 30 Guild members have volunteered for the company’s buyout offer, while another 15 have left. The union says those leaving take more than 900 years of editorial experience.

The Guild states:

Based on company information, 30 Guild members have volunteered for the enhanced Editorial buyout. For many, the last day at work on will be Dec. 31. Some have already left. Another 15 members – including two New York Level 2 Journalists whose work is being moved to low-wage Bangalore, and four New York Journalists who left because of the Reuters Next shutdown – have left Thomson Reuters since the buyouts were first announced in October.

We’ll have more information in the coming weeks about the ripple effects the departures are having across Reuters, particularly the consolidation of desk editing operations in New York at the expense of Washington, as well as an update on the closing of the Miami Bureau.

You may know some departing members very well. Others, you may have never met. They all deserve thanks for their service, hard work and support of the Guild. Together, they represent more than 900 years of experience and excellence. They are:

Chuck Abbott Paul Eckert Colin McDonald Vicki Allen Jeff Flynn Sam Nelson JoAnne Allen Jackie Frank Pam Niimi Manuela Badawy Doris Frankel Nick Olivari Phil Barbara Ellen Freilich John Peabody Ken Barry Leslie Gevirtz Joe Silha Maureen Bavdek Gary Hill Erin Smith Carol Bishopric Eileen Houlihan Jane Sutton Xavier Briand Ilaina Jonas Caryn Trokie Alister Bull Chad Matlin John Wallace Bob Burgdorfer Carole Vaporean Chris Wilson Debbie Charles Stacey Marques Jessica Wohl Pedro DaCosta Jim Marshall Debby Zabarenko Ted D’Afflisio Megan McCarthy Toby Zakaria Tim Dobbyn Gerry McCormick Sue Zeidler

From the most junior to the most senior, each departing member made the company better and the Guild stronger. Several were Guild activists. Not every member can or wants to be a steward or Guild officer. But the activists who left will have to be replaced. The Guild is largely a volunteer organization. This is a time for members who want to make a difference to step forward to help preserve the dignity, benefits and protections we’ve gained over the years, and to make Thomson Reuters a place where good journalism can be practiced in a good working environment.

Read more here.