Star Tribune letter to staff on buyouts

Dear Staff:

Since Monday, we have accepted 40 people into the voluntary buyout program, for a total of 44 approved buyouts to date. We have also had one resignation in the last month, which brings us very close to the company's target of reducing combined news and editorial staffs by 50 jobs. We are still evaluating the remaining buyout applications to determine if others will be approved. We are also working hard on the newsroom reorganization and we hope to get the remaining assignments out before the end of the week.

It is an understatement to say that these have been extremely stressful weeks for everyone. We want to thank you again for your patience and dedication to journalism as we work through this difficult period. We are lucky to have such a terrific staff to lean on. Soon, we will be saying goodbye to a lot of talented people, many of whom have dedicated their careers to this paper. The list includes a few who have been here for almost 48 years. We simply cannot thank people enough for their work for the Star Tribune and for journalism.

The last day of work for most of those accepted into the buyout program will be Friday, June 15, and we are working on a plan to recognize their contributions. All suggestions for how to do so are welcome.

Meanwhile, here is the list of people who have been accepted so far. It is important to note that this list is tentative: people have 15 days to rescind their buyout application and it is possible that a few people may decide to stay.

Nancy Entwistle, Doug Grow, Ron Nies, Stephen Berg, Catherine Stanley, Larry Hanson, Carol Hartman, Stormi Greener, Jay Weiner, Conrad deFiebre, Kay Miller, Dan Wascoe, Sharon Schmickle, Linda Mack, Michael Anthony, Susan E. Peterson, Eric Black, Paul Gustafson, Joseph Kimball, Charles Haga, Linda Scheimann, Jim Phillips, Pat Norton, Heather Munro, Jim Boyd, Maury Hobbs, Susie Hopper, John Addington, Patricia Pheifer, Randy Miranda, Beth Thibodeau, Julie Rosckes, Delma Francis, Greg Patterson, Barb Glander, Jeff Rush, Christine Norman, Nancy Olsen, Susan Barbieri, David Peters.

Already in the buyout program: Rob Daves, Larry Werner, Denise Brownfield, Bob Jansen.

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