St. Paul Pioneer Press lays off 11 employees

Pioneer Press
The St. Paul Pioneer Press has about 140 newsroom employees.
MPR file photo

The St. Paul Pioneer Press has laid off 11 employees, including nine in the newsroom.

In an e-mail to employees Tuesday, Editor Thom Fladung said the layoffs were needed to deal with the challenges of a difficult economy and unprecedented change in the industry.

Those laid off included five copy editors, two page designers, Minnesota Twins beat reporter Phil Miller, photographer Brandi Thomas, and two advertising employees.

The Newspaper Guild unit at the Pioneer Press issued a statement saying the layoffs didn't have to happen. The union says members were prepared to vote on talking to the company about contract concessions, but were blindsided late last week by management's withdrawal of its request for $1.1 million in concessions.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.