UPI Lays Off 24 in U.S. News Bureaus

United Press International said Tuesday that it has fired at least 24 staffers, including 10 in one-person bureaus across the country. The Wire Service Guild said at least 40 people had been terminated.

Christopher Smith, a spokesman for UPI, said there is “no question” that more people will be laid off but added that he couldn’t provide exact figures until today.

Dan Carmichael, secretary-treasurer of the Guild, said the union “intends to challenge and reverse these layoffs.” He said UPI had notified at least 40 people in late December that they had been terminated and that the union expects more layoffs.

The company and the Guild said the layoffs primarily affected news staffers, as well as some photo technicians and office aides.

Smith said staffers were terminated in one-person bureaus in Huntsville, Ala.; Helena, Mont.; Rockford, Ill.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Morgantown, W. Va.; Portland, Me.; Reno; Frankfort, Ky., Bismarck, N.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Guild said a staffer in a one-person bureau in Wichita, Kan., was terminated, but the company disputed that claim.

Additionally, the union said staffers were laid off in at least 18 cities, including Washington; Baltimore; Atlanta; Dallas; Little Rock, Ark.; Boston; Salt Lake City; Boise, Ida.; Minneapolis; Milwaukee and Montpelier, Vt.

Smith said he did not have the names of the cities so he could not immediately comment on the Guild’s claim.

The most recent layoffs follow the terminations in November of about 30 employees, mainly temporary or probationary workers, Carmichael said. UPI employs about 1,400 worldwide.

Carmichael said the Guild will fight the terminations involving full-time, non-probationary employees.