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Clear Channel begins to cut the Metro Traffic folks

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dakareedog

Guest
Joe Isham fired. The evil empire didn't even do it in person. He was fired electronically. No other details available.
 
Very sad. Never worked with Joe but I know he's solid and has been doing this forever. I was wondering when the changes were going to happen--months have passed, but they're still working out of two buildings like before, running two separate staffs, two sets of management, etc. At least they're all under the same email system now--makes it easy to "blast" the layoffs to employees and avoid those awful, uncomfortable confrontations of firing someone in person. ::) ::) ::) ::) (I believe the antiquated but accurate term for a person who does that is a "chicken sh__.")

Me, I think CC should extend Amy Austin's management coverage to include the former WW1 people, and bring the entire crew in under one roof. That would eliminate the need for all those duplicate-duty, trying-to-fade-into-the-wallpaper managers at the Irving office. I volunteer to email the pink slips to those. CC won't stand for such a top-heavy organizational chart.
 
They didn't let me go by e-mail; I was phoned. (Only because I am on vacation.) I don't know anyone in the Houston Metro office who was spared. HR came in this morning and started letting folks go. Here's your packet, here's the door. Next! Keep in mind that I've been in the back office for 7 years. I have no idea how many on-air folks will be permitted to stay. (Probably those with key talent agreements.)

The severance package is -- well, I don't want to use the word "generous". "Adequate" fits.
 
Sorry, I made the assumption that Joe was working in the Dallas office. But I'm betting that Houston's operations will be handled in Dallas from here on out. I believe that brings the number of major cities that the Dallas office has to produce for is, what, 5? Plus XM/Sirius. And it's not a case of producing and plugging in the most major accidents when you get a tweet, but having to actually record reports for most of these cities while trying to lend some priority to Dallas-Fort Worth...oh, and recording XM/Sirius as well for those cities (a DC or NYC staff or a computer no longer generates those reports.)

Oh, and being a one or two-man operation for most of the shifts.

Even a $50K a year salary wouldn't be enough to juggle all of that AND do it effectively. The savings that WW1 realized when they shuttered 2/3rds of their regional offices three years back should have freed up plenty of capital to hire the brightest for the remaining offices and pay them properly. But in the spirit of today's "capitalism," the savings was merely absorbed into profit. And with people so desperate for jobs now, and with radio people in particular trying to keep their names in the spotlight, they're taking horrible hourly-rate deals and juggling job duties that were once covered by 3 or 4 people...it's very sad. Ultimately, the product suffers as well.

Tom Corbett, regional boss of Traffic.com, put the situation so eloquently several years ago: "It's about time the EMPLOYERS held the upper hand again."
 
Sheesh...DFW did not emerge unscathed Wednesday, either. Gone from the Dallas office are Eric Grubbs, Chris Babler, Mike Laurel, Brian Pulver and Debbie Douglas (Alcocer.) Strange that no management people lost THEIR jobs, though. Condolences to each, especially Debbie and Eric, who are friends and former co-workers of mine.
 
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