Business

NY Times buyout count gets to 53

The number of people stepping forward at The New York Times for voluntary severance packages passed the 50 mark late yesterday, but could go higher.

Times economics reporter Edmund Andrews was among those who decided to call it quits.

“They had 53 [volunteers] by 4 p.m. is what I am hearing,” said Art Mulford, the unit chairman of the Times Newspaper Guild. The deadline for filing was 5 p.m. yesterday.

Times Executive Editor Bill Keller said Friday in a memo that the company was unlikely to reach the corporate buyout goal of 100 people through volunteers, and that the headcount reduction would be achieved through layoffs.

A Times spokeswoman said, “We are not commenting or offering any details on the staff reduction.”

Further cuts, if necessary, could start Thursday for non-exempt workers, but could drag out another 10 days for unionized Guild workers.