Providence Newspaper Guild - Guild Leader January 27, 2003

Notice of Quarterly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, January 29, Noon Guild office, 270 Westminster St. 2nd Floor, Providence

Contract Bargaining Update: Executive Committee and Negotiating Committee members will review the status of negotiations.

Nomination of TNG & CWA Convention Delegates: Nominations will be accepted delegates and alternates to the TNG and CWA conventions, which will be held in August. In the event of uncontested nominations, the nominees will be elected, otherwise an election will be scheduled.

NOTE: The Guild's bylaws require members to have paid dues in full within the past 30 days to attend and vote at membership meetings, to run or make nominations for Guild office, or vote in union elections. You can pay your dues at the door.

The Guild and the company have had eight bargaining sessions since off-the-record talks began on Oct. 28. Both sides have expressed satisfaction with the progress that has been made. Four additional dates have been scheduled, beginning this week: Jan. 31, Feb. 3, 4 and 6.

Under the ground rules of the off-the-records sessions, the Guild and the company have agreed not to reveal the details of the discussion or any agreements that have been reached. If the talks are successful, all of the agreements will be publicly disclosed and Guild members will vote on whether to accept the proposed agreement.

Members of the Guild bargaining team believe that it is possible to conclude the off-the-record talks in the remaining scheduled meetings. However, there remains the risk that talks could break down. It is the Guild's goal to use the next several sessions to GET IT DONE.