LA Times Employees Stage Historic Walkout Over Impending Layoffs

Hundreds of Los Angeles Times staffers staged a walkout to protest anticipated layoffs that could reduce the staff by as much as 20 percent, leading to fears of gutting crucial areas of coverage. The walkout, the first in the publication's 142-year history, was in response to the company's announcement of impending layoffs due to budgetary concerns. The union representing journalists has described the upcoming cuts as "major," likely affecting more than 100 people in the newsroom. The staff expressed hope that the protest would lead to a more "humane and thoughtful" approach to cost-cutting, as they rejected management's proposal to gut protections for veteran employees in exchange for saving some positions.