Statesman Owner Offers Early Retirement
Owners of the Austin American-Statesman has informed employees that it wants some people to voluntarily retire.
The early retirement option applies to employees of the newspaper 55 and older, if they have been with Statesman parent Cox Enterprises for at least a decade.
Statesman Publisher Michael Vivio said it was a tough businesses decision made because of the economy.
“While this is not pleasant to say goodbye to any one who has been with us for a long time,” Vivio said in an interview with KUT News, “at least this is a compassionate and generous way to do that”
Vivio said about 130 people are eligible for the voluntary retirement program. Retirements could be effective as soon as April 1.
The Statesman publisher says the program is not related to the ongoing efforts for Cox to sell the newspaper. Vivio added no involuntary job cuts are planned at present.
