Alma Media’s statutory employee negotiations regarding the production model of newspapers in the Lappi region have been completed
Alma Media Corporation Press release 11 May 2015 at 14:30 p.m. (EEST)
ALMA MEDIA’S STATUTORY EMPLOYEE NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THE PRODUCTION MODEL OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE LAPPI REGION HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
The statutory employee negotiations regarding the renewal of the production model of Alma Media’s northern newspapers and its impact on employees have been completed today. According to the publisher’s decision, the editorial teams, advertisement sales organisations, advertisement production and customer service functions of Lapin Kansa, Pohjolan Sanomat, Uusi Rovaniemi and Lounais-Lappi will be merged. The total impact on employees is 22 person years at most.
As of the beginning of June, Lapin Kansa and Pohjolan Sanomat, will be produced by the combined organisation. The newspapers will be updated online seven days per week and published in print six times per week. In addition, local papers Uusi Rovaniemi and Lounais-Lappi are published and delivered twice a week. The newspaper headquarters will be located in Rovaniemi after the operational merger. Kemi will be home to a strong regional editorial team.
As a result of the merger, a single voice for the Lappi region will be created, amounting to the seventh largest regional newspaper in Finland when measured in reader volumes. The paper is distributed as Lapin Kansa to the subscribers of Lapin Kansa, while in the Kemi and Tornio region, it will be distributed as Pohjolan Sanomat and with slightly different content. The weekend section is delivered together with the Saturday paper. On Sundays, a digital edition will be published online, including longer weekend articles and the latest news.
In connection with the reform, the online and mobile services of these newspapers will be revamped. Both regional newspapers will continue using their own brands online, while still working in close cooperation. Online content is primarily available to subscribers.
As a result of the changes in the production model, the number of employees at the different functionalities of the newspapers will be decreased by 22 person years at most. The cuts apply to all employee groups. No more than 14 people will be laid off, as some of the cuts can be accomplished through retirement solutions and contracts. The portion of the employment cut at editorial teams is 14 person years. The employer’s initial plan for the cuts needed was 30 person years.
The publisher’s solution also has an impact on the distribution operations. The statutory employee negotiations regarding Alma Manu Oy’s distribution services in the Lappi region were also completed today. The new distribution model is based on six delivery days, from Monday to Saturday, which results in an employee decrease of no more than 15 person years, in accordance with the employer’s original plan.
Further information:
Kari Juutilainen, Director, Alma Regional Media, tel. +358 50 435 4159
Taru Ojala, Director of Logistics, Alma Manu Oy, tel. +358 40 509 2772
Alma Media in brief
Alma Media is a media company focusing on digital services and publishing. In addition to news services, the company’s products provide useful information related to lifestyle, career and business development. The services of Alma Media have expanded from Finland to the Nordic countries, the Baltics and Central Europe. In 2014, the company employed an average of 1,830 professionals (excluding deliverers), of whom approximately one quarter worked outside Finland. Alma Media’s revenue in 2014 totalled approximately EUR 295 million. Alma Media’s share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.almamedia.com.