The Albany Newspaper Guild marked the end of an era Thursday evening when its members and executive board accepted the resignation of longtime President Ken Crowe and installed new officials to its board.

Crowe, who worked at the Times Union for 40 years and spent at least 10 as either president, vice-president and steward with the Guild, passed the mantle to chief steward and now President Wendy Liberatore.

“Wendy will do a great job as our local’s new president,” Crowe said. “Wendy is passionate and she cares deeply about our colleagues. Wendy has demonstrated her capabilities as chief steward and secretary of the local. Wendy’s also been very active in contract negotiations. Working with Justin (Wisner), David (Johnson) and our sector representative Kathy Munroe, Wendy will lead our local to a new contract.”

In addition to Liberatore, the members installed Paul Nelson as treasurer, Wisner as chief steward and Will Richards and Rose Schneider as at-large board members. The board is rounded out by Johnson who is vice president and Kathleen Moore who is secretary.

While the board looks forward to negotiating a new contract in the coming months, Crowe’s years of knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed.

“I always said I wanted to help people,” Crowe said. “My fellow Guild members at the Albany Times Union allowed me to do that by electing me as president of the local. I really appreciate their support and belief in my abilities. Albany has always been very lucky to have a strong membership and to have their support for the executive board in dealing with the Times Union.”

The Albany Newspaper Guild, Local 31034, TNG-CWA, filed an unfair labor practice charge on Thursday Jan. 3, 2025, with the National Labor Relations Board against the Times Union.

The charge comes from the Times Union failing to respond to information requests made by the Guild regarding the health insurance plans and failing to respond to a request by the Guild for a meeting to discuss changes in health insurance coverage.

“It appears the Times Union acted to circumvent provisions of health insurance sections in our contract. The Executive Board has decided we cannot accept this and we are fighting back,” President Ken Crowe said.

Times Union Publisher George Hearst was informed by Guild attorney Michael Melick that the charge has been filed.

An NLRB agent contacted the Guild Friday and has opened an investigation.

Approved for posting; KCCII, 1/5/25

The quarterly membership meeting of the Albany Newspaper Guild, Local 31034, TNG-CWA has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.  The meeting will be held via Zoom.

You must be a member in good standing (paying dues) to participate in the meeting and to vote on any measures that come before the local.

The membership will hear a report on contract negotiations and plans for a Feb. 6, 2025 Guild party to honor retirees, those who were laid off and those who took buyouts in 2024.

Any other matters may also be brought up at the annual meeting.

The monthly Executive Board meeting will follow on the same Zoom call.

Please email office@albanyguild.org for Zoom login info if you have problems.

The Guild’s Commission Committee met with management on Tuesday afternoon to discuss changes in the Frequence commissions.

As the finance department cannot see all Frequence displays, the company will reduce the commission and the goal of all Frequence products by 75 percent. This change will go into effect in 2025.

Guild Chief Steward Wendy Liberatore, Guild steward Justin Wisner and member Lloyd Brown attended the meeting with Chief Revenue Officer Ron Merrit and Jerry Kingkade of sales and operations.

Both Wisner and Brown said they are satisfied that the changes will not adversely affect 2025 goals for the sales staff.

Any questions on the commissions can be directed to Wisner at justin.c.wisner@gmail.com or Brown at lloydbrownrr88@gmail.com.

The enrollment period for health insurance is now taking place and those who would like to take the insurance must enroll by Friday, Nov. 22.

There are two main health insurance plans.

Here is the notice from Hearst and the Times Union about enrolling.

“Make Your Selections”

 Enroll now or go to  MyHEARST  and select My Benefits &  Resources under the Benefits & Pay tab.
 You can also enroll by calling the Hearst Benefits Service Center at 855-827-0372. Representatives are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Please note, you will be able to see your per-paycheck cost of benefits during the enrollment process. If you don’t enroll in benefits during Annual Enrollment, your benefits will automatically default to no coverage except for company-provided basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long-term disability insurance.

Your next opportunity to change your coverage or enroll in benefits will be during Annual Enrollment in the fall of 2025 for coverage in 2026 unless you have a qualifying life event.”

The Guild is providing the insurance premiums here:
For the cheaper premium plan known as United Healthcare Consumer Plan with HSA.
Below is the Category: Followed by weekly, monthly and company monthly premiums
Single: $20.31, $88 and $495
You and Spouse: $55.85, $242 and $1,408
You and child/Children: $36.46, $158 and $896
You and family: $79.62, $345 and $1,708

A single person receives $600 for the Health Savings Account. All others receive $1,200 for family.

The second plan with higher premiums is the United Healthcare Classic Plan. There is no HSA.
Below is the Category: Followed by weekly, monthly and company monthly premiums
Single: $51.23, $222 and $448
You and Spouse: $140.77, $610 and $1,236
You and Child/Children: $92.076, $399 and $809
You and family: $201.23, $872 and $1,408

There is no composite rate in either plan.

In the first plan, the deductible for in network is $2,000 for an individual. For a family, the deductible is $4,000. All family members count toward the deductible.

Out-of-pocket maximum for individuals in network is $4,500 and for family it is $9,000.

For the classic plan (second one listed) the deductible in network for individual is $1,300, employee plus one dependent, $2,600 and for a family $3,900.

Out-of-pocket maximum is $3,000 for individual and $9,000 for family.

There are premiums for dental coverage and vision coverage.

The Times Union has not provided information requested by the Guild and insists it doesn’t have to negotiate even though health insurance is a mandatory topic of bargaining and it has done so with the other unions at the newspaper.

Approved for posting: KCCII 11/17/24