WGA East Slams MSNBC’s “Mass Layoffs” As 99 Staffers Brace For Impact Amid Network Shakeup

deadline.com:

The Writers Guild of America East has denounced a series of “mass layoffs” at MSNBC, where it says 99 of its members are set to be cut amid an ongoing shakeup at the network.

The union says staffers from “at least nine different shows” will be affected by what it calls “the slow, painful trickle of announcements regarding a near-total overhaul of the network’s broadcast line-up.” Earlier this week, MSNBC confirmed plans to completely change its daytime, primetime and weekend lineup.

Per the guild, the affected staffers worked on The ReidOut, Alex Wagner Tonight, The Weekend, Andrea Mitchell Reports, Ayman Mohyeldin Reports, Weekends with Jonathan Capehart, The Katie Phang Show, Jose Diaz-Balart Reports and Inside with Jen Psaki.  “Although the company has acknowledged that there are plenty of job openings at MSNBC, it has cruelly insisted that the workers slated for layoff must reapply for their jobs to remain employed,” the union wrote in a statement on Tuesday.

MSNBC did previously say there is a nearly 1-to-1 ratio of jobs impacted to new ones being posted, which laid off staff are welcome to apply for — a move has been criticized by many, including the network’s own staff, like Rachel Maddow. “They’re being invited to reapply for new jobs.