Alan Pergament: Popular, versatile Michael Wooten won’t be easily replaced at WGRZ

A goodbye package of highlights is routinely given to someone like Wooten who has worked tirelessly at a local station for 14 years so the decision to escort him out of the newsroom Tuesday while he still was under contract says a lot about the way his employment ended.

So does the silence from Channel 2 General Manager Mark Manders, who has declined to return emails and phone calls asking for comment.

The failure to respond to my questions has been fairly routine from Manders since taking over from Jim Toellner, the long-running GM who revived the station during his tenure. Manders has a different management style from Toellner.

Wooten can’t comment to avoid jeopardizing his salary for the month of September and his co-workers aren’t allowed to talk to me, by Channel 2 rules.

Wooten’s contract was set to expire in August but had been extended a month to September. He declined a contract offer with a raise and was abruptly told to leave.

He shared the frustrations of several co-workers about the number of openings in the news department that hadn’t been filled primarily because of a pending sale of Tegna that fell through. The reduced staff put increasing stress on the remaining workers.

On Friday, Wooten was among six staffers who called in sick, which led to speculation that it was an organized protest for being overworked because of staffing issues.

Wooten, who has rarely taken a sick day, has told co-workers he really was sick and, despite speculation, that the number of people who called in sick had nothing to do with his departure.

A disgruntled employee, he just decided against signing a new deal. In that case, his leaving was on him.

But the way he was treated after he made his decision is on station management. It also serves as a reminder to co-workers that everyone is replaceable. However, Wooten won’t be…