The Chicago Sun-Times Monday announced the layoffs of “approximately 30” employees, with 18 cuts effective immediately and another dozen or so coming over the next few weeks.
Jobs being eliminated are in the accounting, computer, advertising, circulation and production departments, and they include 12 union positions, a company spokesman said. No editorial employees are among those being laid off.
Executive Vice President Charles Champion announced the layoffs in a memo, which blamed the cuts on restructuring as the Sun-Times seeks ways “to become more productive, efficient and streamlined.” The memo also stated that unfilled positions have been eliminated and that the use of temporary workers has been discontinued.
The cuts are in addition to an employee buyout package announced in spring by American Publishing Co., which bought the Sun-Times for $180 million in March. The number of workers accepting buyouts will not be known until the end of August. The Sun-Times employs about 1,550 workers.
