APN to make pre-press redundancies as board faces showdown
Troubled publisher APN News and Media is to make 12 redundancies among the pre-press staff of its regional ad services division after deciding to outsource the work.
Mumbrella understands some the work will move overseas but APN declined to confirm the details of the oversourcing.
A spokeswoman for APN told Mumbrella: “APN Australian Regional Media is restructuring its ad services division with a portion of the pre-press work to be outsourced.”
“The change will result in 12 redundancies that will take effect on 5 April 2013.”
Pre-press staff are involved the creation of a print layout and the final printing of newspapers.
Sources inside the company have told Mumbrella the move would likely see forced redundancies due to a lack of staff willing to volunteer.
“Applications for voluntary redundancy have been invited and will be accommodated where possible,” said the spokeswoman.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told Mumbrella it was concerned about the redundancies. “The decision to shed jobs comes as terrible news for the workers concerned but is particularly disappointing if these jobs are to be moved off-shore,” said Andrew Currie AMWU NSW Print Division Secretary.
“The AMWU is monitoring developments at APN to ensure that employees receive their correct entitlements and extends its support to affected members.”
The APN board is today facing a showdown over the issue of a proposed capital raising.
The Australian this morning reports APN chief executive Brett Chenoweth, chairman Peter Hunt and three non-executive directors are considering resigning as they face shareholder opposition to the proposed capital raising.
This morning, APN told the ASX that it had received a notice calling for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the removal of Hunt and Chenoweth, along with directors Melinda Conrad, John Harvey, Kevin Luscombe and John Massland.
The company added: “APN intends to make a further announcement during the course of the day concerning the potential capital raising and other matters.”
Nic Christensen
Any ideas on how this is going to affect the Sunshine Coast Daily?
User ID not verified.