Block Communications to Lay Off Hundreds of Production Workers at Newspapers in Pittsburgh, Toledo

Block Communications said it will lay off 136 people at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 131 at The Blade of Toledo, OH, a decision that will help cut costs at the two money-losing dailies where the company has been wrangling with unions for more than a year over concessions.

Production and printing employees would be affected as both newspapers prepare to leave their long-time printing facilities in Downtown and Toledo for new or cheaper plants. Newsroom and advertising workers will be spared, company and union leaders said on Tuesday.

Block told employees in Toledo in a recent letter that losses exceeded $8.5 million