Tomorrow, the word will come down on who will lose their jobs in the previously-reported cuts at 16th Street. All managers have been told to be in their offices nationwide and there’s a conference call scheduled tomorrow morning with Sweeney’s executive assistant, Bob Welch.

One AFL-CIO staffer just sent me this missive from the Newspaper Guild, which represents AFL-CIO staffers:

As most people have heard by now, tomorrow seems to be the day that we will be hearing about the restructuring plans, including getting the list of defunded positions. It will be very important to show our solidarity. To do that, I am asking that all Guild members wear black shirts on Tuesday. Even members in the field should wear black. While I know many of you are isolated out there, when you look in the mirror, or look down and see your shirt, you will know that nearly 200 of your brothers and sisters are out there facing the same concerns that you are.

Keep in mind that, as I understand it, what Welch unveils is just a plan and won’t become finalized until a budget is passed in June. Then, presumably around July 1, the 90-day layoff clock begins to tick so people won’t be out the door until October. But, as one wag puts it:

Of course, all of us rats are already jumping ship. if the AFL puts an incentive package out there for anyone to take a voluntary layoff (as some expect), there’ll be plenty of people trampled as we all rush for the doors.

Another distressed person, who I would add came to me out of the blue, reports this morning that management has been a bit close-mouthed.  This person tells me:

All the info we’re getting about the layoffs is coming from our union. Management hasn’t said anything to us. We have been getting over the past two weeks emails about workshops on how to find affordable health insurance when you don’t have a job, emails from HR about a new binder full of jobs with affiliates in the office, etc., but no one has flat out told us that the list is coming down from DC. Last week management had a call about what to expect from employees when they get laid off (signs of suicide and depression, etc.), but they never said anything about the layoffs. People who are eligible to retire between now and 2007 also had a call talking about compensation packages, but the retirees are cynical. And on the call they didn’t admit to Tuesday being the day.

Question to Bob Welch: isn’t there a better way to handle this? Wouldn’t we be all over corporate management if it was acting so mysteriously?