Sam Zell

Allow Tribune Employees a Voice!

Target:
Tribune Company Board of Directors
Sponsored by: 
Chicago real estate billionaire Sam Zell bought the Tribune Company last year pledging to improve the newspapers. Instead, he has fired more than 500 workers. He has shrunk the size of the newspapers, diminishing the public sphere in our communities. We're asking Zell to create two additional  board members to represent Tribune workers and local community members. Los Angeles Times workers and the community that they serve deserve seats at the table.
Chicago real estate billionaire Sam Zell bought the Tribune Company last year pledging to improve the newspapers. Instead, he has fired more than 500 workers. He has shrunk the size of the newspapers, diminishing the public sphere in our communities. We're asking Zell to create two additional  board members to represent Tribune workers and local community members. Los Angeles Times workers and the community that they serve deserve seats at the table.
Dear Sam:

We the undersigned realize that these are difficult economic times for all newspapers. However, we do not understand why Tribune Co. is cutting back on its coverage and its staff more than other media organizations. We believe that it is ultimately harmful to the long term future of your organization to diminish the product and the public sphere.

For that reason, we would like to take you up on your offer to be "partners" with Tribune employees. Tribune employees are partial owners of the company due to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan which was used to finance a highly-leveraged buyout of Tribune Co. last year. They surely have a stake in the future of this company. We ask you to create a seat on the board of directors to represent the interests of Tribune employees. Scores of other ESOPs already have such a position. Tribune workers deserve a seat at the table.

We also would like to take you up on your professed desire to reinvent the newspaper. To that end, we urge you to recognize that a newspaper is a unique business: a profit-seeking enterprise which has public service responsibilities. We, the citizens of communities served by Tribune Co. news outlets, believe that we can help you fulfill your public trust role if we, too, are given a voice on the board of directors. We ask that you create a seat on the board of directors to represent the interests of readers. Community members also deserve a seat at the table.

We believe that by taking these steps, you will help improve the long term health of Tribune Co. We believe that by taking these steps, you will invest in the newspapers and the communities that they serve. And we believe that by taking these steps, you will signal a dramatic new direction for the media and its goals in the 21st century.

Please join us by creating two new seats on your company's board of directors to represents the interests of employees and the interests of local communities. Help us help you. We'd like a seat at the table.

Sincerely,
signature
goal: 1,000
 
sign petition! Already a Care2 member? log in

This petition is closed. Thank you for your interest.

You can do more! Show me more petitions »
We signed the "Allow Tribune Employees a Voice!" petition!
# 219:
5:08 pm PST, Jan 24, Tell Zell Owner Blows Dick, New York
As an "independent" reporter of the Tell Zell site, I will do all I can to push Barry Hussein's socialists policies. What's the worst that could happen to the LA Times?
# 218:
8:10 pm PST, Jan 2, Achmed the Dead terrorist, Florida
Fuckin A!!
# 217:
6:48 pm PST, Dec 28, Jennifer Gardner, Florida
# 216:
5:55 pm PST, Dec 22, Zell's Crusty Penis, Illinois
I have a beard but no moustache.
# 215:
1:39 pm PST, Dec 22, Karina Rosene, California
# 214:
3:56 pm PST, Dec 14, Anne Parrella, New York
Zell has to be one of the most conniving greediest individuals to ever walk this planet. His minions lie and do his dirty work, if they want to keep their jobs. I know first hand from the way his enterprises work.
# 213:
3:38 pm PST, Dec 10, Name not displayed, California
Amazing profits! How sweet the sound of the middle class family's wails of agony. Once human but now I am a CEO. Amazing profits! Responsibility? What's that? Innovation? What's that? Amazing profits! Let's find ways to cut overhead. Amazing profits! Employee Benefits, screw that! Let's brainwash Americans through the media to hate what's due to them. Amazing profits! Screwing over employees I'm all for that. Amazing profits! (Sing as best you can to your favorite tune.) *this song is dedicated to the CEOs of Wall street and the big three auto makers, and of course, Sam Zell. Without him thousands would be a lot better off.
# 212:
12:52 pm PST, Dec 10, Name not displayed, California
Zell, Please sell the L.A. Times to someone in Los Angeles who cares. You could have sold it to Geffen for 2 Billion dollars last year. Some shrewd businessman you are.
# 211:
11:38 am PST, Dec 8, Maria Heim, Wisconsin
# 210:
9:53 pm PST, Dec 7, Carlos Rivera, El Salvador
The La Times must return to democratic hands. It is very clear that CEO of the Tribune Company like much of the rest of CEOs around the United States, have grown greedy,are intellectually in bankrupcy, and have lost all concern for public service. keep the struggle and persevere in your noble objective of saving the paper.
# 209:
6:58 pm PST, Dec 7, No LA Times? No great Loss to LA, California
file Cahpter 11, consolidate the paper operations, and outsource the printing. The LA Times building on Spring St. would make great lofts and condos.
# 208:
10:13 pm PST, Dec 5, O.J. Simpson, Nevada
# 207:
3:42 pm PST, Dec 5, Zell Hell, Alabama
PLEASE UPDATE!!!
# 206:
12:31 pm PST, Dec 5, Why no updates Zell got your tounge, Maryland
# 205:
12:49 pm PST, Nov 21, Mike Downey, California
# 204:
12:43 pm PST, Nov 19, Steven Kresal, Arizona
# 203:
2:04 pm PST, Nov 11, I drink your Milkshake!, Oregon
Improving the LA Times isn't going to gain more readers. The subscriber base is dying off. Being objective and covering Democrats with the same zeal the paper goes after Conservatives and Christians would slow the decline by not stop it.
# 202:
9:15 pm PST, Nov 9, Peter Fuller, Illinois
As a former Chicago Tribune Senior Editor who was caught up in the reorganization, I heartily support this drive. I hold no bitter feelings toward anyone but I do not like seeing the industry I devoted 35 years of my life to being so diminished. Bless ya'll and I really feel for the young people in the business. xo
# 201:
9:18 pm PST, Nov 6, Adriel Peterson, California
# 199:
2:43 pm PDT, Oct 31, Seriously? YouveJustGoneAndGivenUp?, Illinois
# 198:
11:49 am PDT, Oct 31, Name not displayed, California
My roommate and I have shared a subscription to the LA Times for years, but the gutting that you have done to this wonderful paper is a disgrace. Why don't you let those who have a stake in this community and in these newspaper have a seat at the table when you are making these wrenching decisions?
# 197:
4:14 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, Qatar
# 196:
5:52 pm PDT, Oct 23, Why is This Site Dead?, California
# 195:
6:58 am PDT, Oct 20, Freddie Geisler, Florida
# 194:
11:54 pm PDT, Oct 19, Adam Barajas, California
# 193:
4:15 am PDT, Oct 14, Michael Miller, New York
# 192:
10:29 am PDT, Oct 13, Danielle Kehl, California
# 191:
5:39 am PDT, Oct 10, Susan Campbell, Connecticut
Let the people who put out the newspaper -- who know this business from the ground up -- have a voice. Add the two board members.
# 190:
9:46 pm PDT, Oct 9, Joe Nunes, Connecticut
We want to be full-fledged partners, partner, to help right this ship.
# 189:
7:07 am PDT, Oct 9, Heather Wolf, Washington
# 188:
12:44 am PDT, Oct 9, Lamia J Amaris, Netherlands
# 187:
1:28 pm PDT, Oct 8, Mark Kiernan, Italy
# 186:
9:26 am PDT, Oct 8, Maria Oniga, Romania
# 185:
2:28 am PDT, Oct 8, Kirsikka Ahtiala, Finland
# 184:
6:02 pm PDT, Oct 7, Blue Apes Revolution A Go Go, United Kingdom
Free press?Only to billionaires im afraid..
# 183:
4:54 pm PDT, Oct 7, Frances M. Amaya, Texas
# 182:
12:45 pm PDT, Oct 7, Ombretta LittleShadow, Connecticut
# 181:
12:11 pm PDT, Oct 7, Kathy G, United Kingdom
# 180:
11:53 am PDT, Oct 7, Annelies Ooms, Belgium
# 179:
10:35 am PDT, Oct 7, Anony Mous, California
I have to keep my name "Anonymous' because I am still looking for employment due to the last layoff. I finally learned you can't trust anyone anymore. I would still be working today at The Lost Angeles Times if I hadn't changed jobs 'to help the company'. The layoffs are the most ridiculous business decision I have ever seen. You don't decimate a product to improve it. You don't lay off the individuals who are trying to save money and better the product. Journalists do not make money! They never have and never will. The morons who are making the firing decisions are now just there to save their own asses. Advertising staff makes money. Hire some real sales people who know how to sale ad space.
# 178:
11:19 am PDT, Oct 6, Dodgers Sweep, California
Cubs suck!
# 177:
4:12 am PDT, Oct 6, Suzanna Van der Voort, Netherlands
Again the proof of people with money, they don't care about their workers!
# 176:
12:20 pm PDT, Oct 4, Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
# 175:
8:29 am PDT, Oct 3, Sam " I REALLY do suck" Zell, Illinois
And the Cubs choked too
# 174:
7:19 am PDT, Oct 3, Thanks, I got fired for Sending the Retch emails, California
Thanks alot Retch. Now I have to go find a job
# 173:
10:02 am PDT, Sep 25, Lou Ferrigno, California
# 171:
11:01 am PDT, Sep 22, Emily Green, California
This is the very least that should be done to rebuild a shattering public trust between readers and the most important newspaper in the American west.
# 170:
2:22 pm PDT, Sep 18, Simos Tarabatzis, Greece
# 169:
8:40 pm PDT, Sep 16, Clark Kent, New York
# 168:
11:53 am PDT, Sep 15, Chase Conboy, California
# 167:
3:44 pm PDT, Sep 10, Rachel Vargas, California
# 166:
11:53 am PDT, Sep 6, P Diddy Combs, California
I didn't kill anyone! Don't listen to Chuck Phillips or Marc Duvoisin!!!
# 165:
9:23 pm PDT, Sep 5, Haywood Jablowmee, California
Get it?
# 164:
9:21 pm PDT, Sep 5, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, California
Vote for me for President.
# 163:
3:14 pm PDT, Sep 5, Ed Saguin, California
# 162:
9:09 pm PDT, Sep 4, George Speros Maniatty, Jr., Pennsylvania
# 161:
12:29 pm PDT, Sep 4, Josh Farmer, California
# 160:
8:43 am PDT, Sep 3, Cecilia Lee Ferreira, Portugal
# 159:
1:08 am PDT, Sep 1, Can Atik, Turkey
# 158:
7:44 pm PDT, Aug 31, Les Nessman, California
Hi, this is Les Nessman from WKRP in Cincinnati. I support good old-fashioned journalism, especially men who wear bowties. I think bowties should be mandatory for today's male journalists. And all the females need to have breasts like Loni Anderson.
# 157:
5:53 pm PDT, Aug 31, Roxie Schliesman, Wisconsin
# 156:
5:52 pm PDT, Aug 31, Tugg Speedman, California
I should have been nominated for "Simple Jack"!!!!
# 155:
4:40 pm PDT, Aug 31, Robert R. Daraio, New York
# 154:
2:16 pm PDT, Aug 29, Edgar Duarte, New York
# 153:
6:38 pm PDT, Aug 28, Betty Cauler, Pennsylvania
I have been downsized. Go get 'em for me!
# 152:
12:18 pm PDT, Aug 27, Carol Kaufman, California
# 151:
10:03 am PDT, Aug 26, Robert Salladay, California
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved