News cuts 24 jobs on Geelong newspapers

By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG Advertiser has dumped 24 staff, with general manager Wayne Buttner citing cost-cutting and increased efficiencies.
Staff have supplied the Independent with an email from Mr Buttner telling them the newspaper’s pre-press functions would move to Leader Newspapers’ office at Blackburn.
The email followed parent company News Limited announcing that sub-editing for weekly newspapers Geelong News and Echo will shift to NewsCentral Victoria’s facility at Southbank on November 7.
Mr Buttner’s email said all the Advertiser’s pre-press jobs in Geelong would be redundant “as part of News Ltd’s move to a shared services model”.
“The move is part of News Ltd’s drive to ensure the longevity of its business by gaining efficiencies and reducing costs,” he wrote.
“The newspaper market is increasingly competitive and News Ltd needs to streamline the way it works in order to meet these challenges.”
“The move to Blackburn will occur in stages over the next six months.
“Five to seven pre-press roles will be available at Blackburn and there will be a number of other roles available in other departments within the Geelong business for pre-press staff.”
Mr Buttner said Geelong pre-press staff would be “considered” for the Melbourne-based roles.
Employment opportunities for the redundant staff “may remain at other departments in Geelong”.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union secretary Lorraine Casson said she was “very concerned about loss of these jobs”.
“We have a certified collective agreement with the Advertiser but where these jobs are going there is no collective agreement.
“It is not a unionised facility and it could be an issue as to why the company has made this decision.
“As a union we are concerned that the media moguls are taking jobs out of the regional areas instead of putting back into the regions.”
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance spokesperson Louise Connor called the loss of local sub-editing of the News and Echo was a disappointment.
Mr Buttner had not returned the Independent’s call before the paper went to press.