We value our employees. This was not a decision that we made easily.

We believe our employees in that unit were aware of that Supreme Court decision.

Our decision to part with several valuable stations and their associated, valued employees was difficult, but we believe these stations will be viewed as welcome additions to the station portfolios of one or more strategic buyers. At the same time, we look forward to welcoming into our Media General family the approximately 450 employees associated with the NBC stations we are acquiring.

We believe we have an excellent benefits package for our union employees that reflects the value we place on their many contributions to the university. These include dental, life insurance, and pension benefits and a range of health plan options. One of those plans fully covers the employee's health insurance premium, a benefit few employers provide these days.

What this does is it squarely puts the decision with the employees. Not with the city, not with the politicians, not with the union, not with us.

It is important for our employees within NASA to understand that they can appeal a decision by their management. There is a path for everyone to appeal a decision that he or she believes is wrong, and there will be no retribution for appealing.