Boston Herald Asks For Employee Buyouts

The Boston Herald is asking its employees to accept voluntary buyouts in an effort to cut its workforce.

Herald employees received envelopes on Friday offering severance packages if they agree to leave the company. Management can decide which volunteers to grant buyouts to, but it has an undisclosed number it hopes to reach.

“If they don’t, they’ll probably proceed to layoffs,” said Brian Whelan, the union president for TNG Local 31032.

A shop steward from the same union, Bill Brotherton, weighed in on the move in an email to colleagues.

“But don't fret, this is nothing like the dire situation we encountered a few years ago, when so many of our union brothers and sisters left or were laid off,” Brotherton wrote. “We are not going out of business. This is a belt-tightening move by Pat Purcell and his financial team.”

Pat Purcell is the Herald’s publisher.

Whelan also said the move is not a sign the Herald is in trouble.

“It’s a tough industry to be in right now,” Whelan said. “We’ve weathered a lot of tough storms. And this is just more of the same.”

He also says the Herald is also cutting expenses by moving into smaller office space next year.