PopGoesTheNews.com >> Calling it “a sad, sad day” in Toronto Star history, a union representative is attacking the newspaper’s decision to shut down its classified advertising department. The move means 27 of 32 employees in the department are losing their jobs.
Maureen Dawson, chair of the Star unit of the Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild, said today the company is farming out its classifieds business to a Buffalo company.
“The newspaper that calls itself the voice of the little people is sending jobs to another country in the middle of a recession,” said Dawson. “This is the height of hypocrisy. Shame.”
Torstar spokesman Bob Hepburn blamed the popularity of online classified ads for the closure of the in-house call centre. The Star is expected to save about $1.5 million a year by laying off the six full-time and 21 part-time workers.
