Providence Newspaper Guild - Our Voice August 2004

OUR VOICE

The Newspaper Guild -- Worcester Unit

August 2004

WAGE TALKS BEGIN

Guild negotiators have begun negotiations on wage rates to take effect September 1. The Guild's initial proposal asks for a 6-percent wage increase, the improvement of part-time wage rates and other wage adjustments to correct pay inequities.

Under the contract, wages cannot be reduced. In addition, Guild members are guaranteed they will get at least the same wage increased negotiated by the unions representing pressmen, the photo engravers and the composing room.

The Guild is also seeking payroll deduction of union dues.

The contract provides for annual negotiations of wage rates to take effect on September 1, of each year of the contract.

The Guild proposed:

1. All wage scales and individual wage rate to increase 6% (or higher amount as provided below.)
2. The Part-time wage scales shall be increased to 85% of the full-time rate.
3. Part-time employees in the steps shall be given full experience credit for time at the T&G
4. Bargaining unit members shall receive bonuses on the same basis as the managers & supervisors in their departments.
5. Dues checkoff to become available.
6. All terms to be effective September 1, 2004.
7. New 2 year step for outside circulation part-timers $2 above 1-year rate.

Guild seeks T&G enforcement of contract's dues payment clause

The Guild has filed a grievance over the company's refusal to enforce the contract clause that requires employees who were Guild members when the contract was ratified to pay union dues.

The Guild has asked that the company not utilize the services of seven members until they begin paying union dues.

Dues and Taxes

If you itemize your income taxes, your Guild dues are deductible as business expenses. The Guild will provide members with the information necessary to file for the deduction in the January dues statement.

Guild Challenges Firing

The T&G's firing of a clerk in the news department for "unprofessional conduct" has prompted a grievance from the Guild.

The conduct the company cited for its discharge included asking for weekends off, and accidentally clicking on a computer link that momentarily displayed the photo of a bare-chested woman.

The conduct cited by the company appears to have been trivial and corrected immediately upon a supervisor's request, according to Guild grievance investigators. If this standard of conduct were applied uniformly, the company would have to replace its entire workforce, both Guild-covered and management.

However, the company did not document any shortcomings in the employee's work.