Public Stations Also Face Budget Cuts and Layoffs

[The Voice of Reason]

If anyone has bothered to read Governor David Paterson's proposed budget they might have noticed that state funding to public broadcasting is going to be cut drastically.
Unless public stations can get those funds reinstated you can expect the same results similar to what recently happened at Clear Channel.
Already some executives have warned their employees of possible layoffs that could reach double-digit figures. And, from what my sources tell me, this isn't just a vague threat but a real possibility.
With national underwriting and grants reduced from last year, public stations will have to push even harder for local contributions. This could prove to be a difficult task taking into account that people are already not spending money because of the economy. And if you have a household where the main provider lost his or her job, donating to public broadcasting is the last item on their "to do" list.
So don't be surprised if in a few months you read on this board, or in your local newspaper that there have been layoffs at the public broadcasting station in your community. The worst case scenario is that not only will there be layoffs but the possibility that some smaller market stations may have to close their doors for lack of funding. Cities where there are currently two separate public broadcasting stations might see those stations merge into just one operation.

 

[ThePickleReport]

You are correct. There's already been some rumbles if you read R&R or Radio-Info. A pubcaster in Maine shut down a couple of signals and one in Indiana has put three up for sale. University/college-based programs are also going to take a hit.

 

[Mark Giardina]

You are correct. There's already been some rumbles if you read R&R or Radio-Info. A pubcaster in Maine shut down a couple of signals and one in Indiana has put three up for sale. University/college-based programs are also going to take a hit.

I just read in Sunday's newspaper that WNET TV in New York City has cut 85 jobs.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I just read in Sunday's newspaper that WNET TV in New York City has cut 85 jobs.

I heard an interesting story about that layoff. WNET.ORG is a union shop, and management approached the union, offering to keep everybody if they'd take a 10% pay hike. The union nixed the idea, so they had to start laying off staffers from the bottom up. Those who are left will continue to make full salary, but it cost 85 out of 500 jobs to hit the 10% number.

 

[Element9]

I just read in Sunday's newspaper that WNET TV in New York City has cut 85 jobs.

I heard an interesting story about that layoff. WNET.ORG is a union shop, and management approached the union, offering to keep everybody if they'd take a 10% pay hike. The union nixed the idea, so they had to start laying off staffers from the bottom up. Those who are left will continue to make full salary, but it cost 85 out of 500 jobs to hit the 10% number.

Ahem, Rox... pay HIKE? Union shop? Nixed? That would be a first, eh? Ahh hell, we know you meant 10% pay cut.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Ahem, Rox... pay HIKE? Union shop? Nixed? That would be a first, eh? Ahh hell, we know you meant 10% pay cut.

You have indeed shone shown me the error of my ways...

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Speaking of pay, I wonder how many public stations will forgo raises this year for their employees? Of course that doesn't mean top management won't be getting more money or additional perks. It will be interesting to find out who gets what in a few years when these stations file their 990 tax forms.

 

[aaronread]

You are correct. There's already been some rumbles if you read R&R or Radio-Info. A pubcaster in Maine shut down a couple of signals and one in Indiana has put three up for sale. University/college-based programs are also going to take a hit.

And in the Maine case, it turns out the state had been violating a 1992 agreement with MPBN. In fact, so much hell was raised that the state will likely be forced to pony up more cash. Probably more than they were paying before.

Don't underestimate the ability of parents to raise holy hell when Sesame Street is on the chopping block. It's easy to forget just how integral it can be for parents of small children. (and grandparents of small children...relevant given the higher voting percentages of senior citizens)

As for pay raises, I have heard that several colleges are telling their staff to expect a 0 - 2% raise (as in, not enough to keep up with inflation/COL) this year. Presumably that extends to pubradio mgmt for at least some stations. But it's a tricky thing; there's a lot of office psychology that goes into these decisions, and more often than not, workers prefer to have painful layoffs coupled with keeping everything the status quo...rather than a more broad-spectrum approach of nickel-n-diming that helps avoid some (or even all) of the layoffs. So while I would be surprised to see anything MORE than a cost-of-living salary increase, I would expect something in that range.