Newspaper agency
By Peter Wagner
cutting 20 to 40 jobs
Star-BulletinPlanned job cuts at Hawaii Newspaper Agency, production arm for Honolulu's two daily newspapers, have union members wondering who will get the ax.
Company officials said yesterday 20 to 40 positions will likely be cut. None of the cuts will be in the newsrooms at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or Honolulu Advertiser but details, yet to be worked out, won't be known until next week.
"It was a meeting without many specifics," said Wayne Cahill, of the Hawaii Newspaper Guild, after an initial meeting yesterday with Hawaii Newspaper Agency officials. "Frankly, I didn't come away feeling terribly threatened."
The Hawaii Newspaper Agency handles printing, circulation and advertising for the two papers, which compete with separate newsrooms under a federally approved joint operating agreement.
Cahill said both union and management positions are on the chopping block, and that some cuts will be made by eliminating vacant jobs. "I don't think anyone should panic over this," he said.
The Guild represents about 375 reporters, clerks, maintenance workers, and other employees at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu Advertiser, and Hawaii Newspaper Agency.
Dennis Francis, acting general manager at Hawaii Newspaper Agency and the Advertiser, said the news business is feeling the effects of Hawaii's poor economy.
"Hawaii Newspaper Agency, like other local businesses, many of whom are our customers, must adjust to the protracted weak market conditions in Hawaii," he said.
Of the company's earnings, Francis would only say "our performance is not what it was expected to be."
Cahill said the company yesterday disclosed it had made a profit last year.
"And in this industry, I suspect it's a healthy profit," he said. "But clearly they're not doing as well as they wanted to do."
John Flanagan, editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin, acknowledged the economy has taken a toll. "Certainly we're concerned about the financial health of Hawaii Newspaper Agency and in these economic circumstances it's important for them to do whatever they feel is necessary to keep the business operating," he said. "These are obviously painful times."
Flanagan stressed that no staff reduction is anticipated at the Star-Bulletin, which operates under its own budget.
The Hawaii Newspaper Agency has 630 full-time employees, most of them represented by one of six labor unions. They are the Guild; ILWU Local 142; Hawaii Printing and Graphic Communications Union; Communications Workers of America -- Honolulu Typographical Union; Graphic Communications International Union; and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
