The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently acquired by the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, has undergone significant staff reductions following its transition from Block Communications, which had planned to shut the newspaper down. Andrew Goldstein, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and an education writer for the Post-Gazette, called the layoffs a “devastating blow.” “This is a devastating blow; I don’t think there’s any bones about it. But we’re going to continue to fight,” Goldstein said. The nonprofit purchased the newspaper in April, following a multi-year strike by some employees and Block Communications’ announcement of its closure. Current employees began receiving offer letters Wednesday night and rejection letters Thursday. Goldstein said the layoffs included union activists who had participated in the strike. “They went this route of not only drastic job cuts overall, but also cutting a lot of the union activists who were a part of the strike,” Goldstein said. The guild said the nonprofit cut at least 40% of the Post-Gazette’s staff and 80% of former strikers. Goldstein noted that of the 25 strikers who returned to work in November, only five were rehired. “We are saying what we believe is discriminatory practices in this hiring process while we are seeing just very disappointing cuts overall,” Goldstein said. Goldstein emphasized the guild’s commitment to fighting for its members and ensuring quality news coverage for Pittsburgh. “We are going to work very hard to make sure that Pittsburgh continues to have quality news coverage, and that our union members are able to have quality jobs and good working conditions,” Goldstein said. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to the Venetoulis Institute for comment but did not receive a response. The guild has stated it is considering legal action in response to the layoffs.

PITTSBURGH —

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently acquired by the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, has undergone significant staff reductions following its transition from Block Communications, which had planned to shut the newspaper down.

Andrew Goldstein, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and an education writer for the Post-Gazette, called the layoffs a “devastating blow.”

“This is a devastating blow; I don’t think there’s any bones about it. But we’re going to continue to fight,” Goldstein said.

The nonprofit purchased the newspaper in April, following a multi-year strike by some employees and Block Communications’ announcement of its closure. Current employees began receiving offer letters Wednesday night and rejection letters Thursday.

Goldstein said the layoffs included union activists who had participated in the strike.

“They went this route of not only drastic job cuts overall, but also cutting a lot of the union activists who were a part of the strike,” Goldstein said.

The guild said the nonprofit cut at least 40% of the Post-Gazette’s staff and 80% of former strikers.

Goldstein noted that of the 25 strikers who returned to work in November, only five were rehired.

“We are saying what we believe is discriminatory practices in this hiring process while we are seeing just very disappointing cuts overall,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein emphasized the guild’s commitment to fighting for its members and ensuring quality news coverage for Pittsburgh.

“We are going to work very hard to make sure that Pittsburgh continues to have quality news coverage, and that our union members are able to have quality jobs and good working conditions,” Goldstein said.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to the Venetoulis Institute for comment but did not receive a response.

The guild has stated it is considering legal action in response to the layoffs.