The letters sent Friday to employees of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News say the new company "will continue as the employer of all employees." But they also note that the letter would serve as notice under a federal law requiring 60 days notice in the event of mass layoffs.
Chief operating officer Robert Hall says the letter is merely a procedural matter since the company is "starting anew" and no mass layoffs are planned. A union official and Gov. Ed Rendell say they have received similar assurances.
But outgoing publisher Brian Tierney says his group did not issue such a notice when it bought the papers nearly four years ago.
