Sunday, January 08, 2006

There's a reason you're not reading the paper today

A large number of Chicago Tribune customers did not receive their newspapers this morning. Here's the newspaper's entire explanation:

Dispute snags city Tribune delivery

Tribune staff reports
Published January 8, 2006, 8:44 AM CST

Delivery was delayed Sunday to as many as 10,000 Chicago Tribune home-delivery customers in the city when about 20 carriers walked off the job overnight at a distribution contractor on the Northwest Side.

"We're on top of the situation and working with the people at the distribution center to make sure that our customers are taken care of," said Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman.

Near-north and North Side delivery areas were affected. All papers were expected to be be [sic] delivered by 11 a.m. Customers who have not received their papers may call 1-800-TRIBUNE.


OK, yeah, it's just a quick little explanation to the customers who might go on-line to find out what's going on because phone lines are jammed. But what's missing? How about any mention as to why these carriers walked off the job? Here's a hint: They are terribly underpaid and mistreated, and wanted to make a statement. The "distribution center" will have it all sorted out tomorrow morning with a new crop of poor people with cars to deliver the newspaper. And the carriers, well, they'll be looking for another low-paying job where they'll get little respect and no benefits.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Here's a hint: They are terribly underpaid and mistreated"

I am curious as to what they are currently paid and how you see they are mistreated?

6:53 PM  
Blogger teacherman said...

Well, according to my paperboy Pedro, he makes ten cents per paper delivered, the same amount he's been earning for the past ten years. And, yes, he pays for his own gas. And a penalty for each paper that gets stolen or otherwise reported undelivered.

5:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Readership is down, so no one is going to charge more to pay more money to the delivery-folk.

Maybe we should give the job back to the children. Those ten-year olds don't need 401ks, or gas even. Just a bike. Let them learn the value of a dollar and buy their own iPods.

1:32 AM  

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