Comments for Albany Newspaper Guild

Comment on Parties agree to show you off-the-record proposals by Taftclearance

Taftclearance — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:55:32 +0000

As far as I am concerned, the Guild’s offer to allow “skips” was a tremendously significant move. It’s an offer to undermine one of the basic tenets of unionism in order to move closer to a deal. I don’t understand why, after an eon of seniority being one of the bedrocks of a union contract, all of a sudden it is under attack in union contracts everywhere. I consider it an assault against older workers.
I am not at all happy that any move to weaken seniority protection is included in the Guild’s offer. But to think that the company wants to throw it out altogether…it is a shameful attack on older workers. Don’t get me wrong; I support my union 100 percent. But the thought of a 30-year worker being laid off to save the job of someone with one year of service is an outrage. It also makes me wonder how that would stand up in court under discrimination laws.

Comment on Company asks Guild to betray laid-off workers by beentheredonethat

beentheredonethat — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:14:15 +0000

I am appalled by this nonsense. I am a former employee and cannot believe that this company has come to this. I feel for the current employees, but I am so happy that I do not have to deal with a company that chooses to call what they are doing or planning to do “good business.”

Comment on Company asks Guild to betray laid-off workers by Insulted and sad

Insulted and sad — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:52:06 +0000

What an insult to even think that you can buy a vote for $1,000. Do you not relaize that your employees haven’t had a raise in almost five years? Even if they did received a 2% raise each year just to keep up with healthcare costs or gasoline costs etc. a $50k per year salary would have received over $5,000.
Then you have the nerve to publish on hearstlink that Hearst just had another record brealking profit and revenue year. Great for you but please don’t insult us with a $1,000 bribe. Do you realize that you once had happy, hard working, dedicated employees that loved the Times Union? Those days are gone. Most employees do the minimum and then run out the door at 5. You may think that your cost cutting is adding profits to the bottom line but I am sure that overall productivity is at an all time low because attitudes are at an all time low. Low wadges and a constant demand for more, more, more with less, less, less is not a formula for increased production. You are living in a fantasy world if you really think that formula works. Do you have any idea what it is like to worry about paying the rent or mortgage or to have to tell your child that you can’t afford to pay for school anymore? I am sure you don’t have those concerns for your family. You now have employees that are living paycheck to paychek because you slashed the income of so many. It doesn’t stop with guild employees either. Do you realize that some of your key managers have to work part time jobs just to keep up with the household bills? I know we are in hard times but after slashing so many things and the workforce, please take care of the people that are left. Just wanted to post these comments because I really think that we are just sliding away from anything positive or motivating and when the job market opens up you will see a lot of empty desks at the Times Union and then you won’t have to worry about laying off your work force anymore.

Comment on Company asks Guild to betray laid-off workers by JS

JS — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:57:45 +0000

$1000??? HA! People haven’t had raises in 5 years and Hearst thinks a grand is enough! What a joke.

Comment on Company asks Guild to betray laid-off workers by elzic

elzic — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:54:10 +0000

I am guessing that the company wanted this offer to be public with the idea that members would be drooling at the prospect of $1,000 checks in exchange for this nonsense. Thanks for insulting our intelligence.

Comment on Company asks Guild to betray laid-off workers by Audrey Lahoff

Audrey Lahoff — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:38:40 +0000

What an outrageous offer for Hearst to make to the Guild. In the last contract negotiations they asked members to sell their pension rights for a bribe and so now they think this tactic is alright. Members should hold Hearst accountable for their illegal actions and not give in to this pittance of a few dollars waived in front of them. Hearst needs to come to the table and DO THE RIGHT THING!

Comment on No layoffs after company gets numbers it needs by Projo to cut newsroom staff amid ongoing ad, circulation slump | WPRI.com Blogs

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:19:46 +0000

[...] been so profoundly worse.” He noted employees at three other Northeast papers – the Albany Times Union, the Manchester Union-Leader and the Portland Press Herald – have fared worse over the last [...]

Comment on Members approve buyout offer; deadline is next Friday by Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:30:19 +0000

At least seven people applied, with two of those in editorial and a possible third who asked to think about it over the weekend. I spoke to the publisher today but he could not yet say whether this would avoid layoffs. We do know some exempts also applied. As I told colleagues in the newsroom today, I am optimistic we may avoid layoffs.

Comment on Members approve buyout offer; deadline is next Friday by Kenneth C. Crowe II

Kenneth C. Crowe II — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:08:25 +0000

How many applied?

Comment on Another year, another new health care plan by Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:52:30 +0000

We do have an answer. Under the new plan, prescription drugs would count toward the cap on the 90/10 split of $2,000 for an individual and $4,000 for a family. That is not the case under the current plan.