It feels like death by 1,000 paper cuts.

Now the Company’s San Antonio Express-News is cutting 75 jobs in its newsroom. It feels like we’re standing on shore, watching a tidal wave heading right at us. And I am sorry, but all this talk about preserving quality with cuts this deep isn’t going to cut it. Employees don’t believe it. Readers don’t believe it. Newspapers depend on their credibility, and they shred it when they act as if everything will be fine with staffing diminished this deeply.

Every day brings more bad news from newspapers around the country, and the Hearst Corp. is no exception. The company has now announced it could fold the San Francisco Chronicle after already saying it would fold the Seattle Post-Intelligencer if a buyer can’t be found. (No one expects that to happen.)

Another Hearst paper, the Houston Chronicle, has said it would  cut “more than 10 percent” of staff. And every day the revenue picture worsens.

We do not expect the Times Union to be exempt from these forces. We return to the bargaining table at 10 a.m. Thursday and are preparing a package that will include some concessions. No one would want to be bargaining a contract in this economy, but then again our Newspaper Guild local was born in the darkest days of the depression 75 years ago next month.

Some might argue unions are not needed any more, especially as companies fight to stave off fiscal disaster. We believe our long and proud history shows that unions like ours are needed now more than ever to represent our employees as they face some of the darkest days most of us have ever seen.

With the Detroit newspapers about to deliver only three days a week, residents of the Motor City are wondering if people won’t know about their funerals. The Wall Street Journal has the story.

A colleague said the other day that she is trying to be more conscious of what she spends, perhaps scheduling interviews back to back so she cuts down on mileage. Meeting a source for coffee instead of lunch.

The Company accuses us of being insenstive to what is happening in the economy and the industry, but we’re not. (Boy, do we wish you could have been in the off-the-record sessions.) We know times are tough, but gutting a contract isn’t the answer. We’re willing to be reasonable, to offer concessions while protecting our members’ long-term interests.

But the conversation of the other day left us thinking: Do you have suggestions on steps the Company could take to save money? Are there small steps you’ve been taking to reduce expenses?

We’re not looking for sarcasm here. We’re looking for serious thoughts. Please share yours.

The Guild extends its congratulations to George Hearst on his promotion to publisher of the Times Union.

George is known for being affable and approachable, and he knows many, if not most, of the employees on a first-name basis.

He also is well-known for his involvement in the community.

Yes, he’s been the Company’s chief negotiator during these exceedingly difficult contract talks but we are cautiously optimistic he will set a fresh tone now that he is publisher. We look forward to working with George as a partner in keeping the Times Union a vital part of the community for many years to come.