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

The Times Union cut four positions in the editorial department on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, 2024.

The jobs eliminated were held by members of the Albany Newspaper Guild. The jobs were editing positions.

The members who have lost their jobs will receive nine weeks of notice pay, accumulated time off and severance according to length of service as called for in the contract.

In addition, the Times Union and Guild have agreed to continued health insurance coverage.

Including the two buyouts, we have seen six Guild positions eliminated. The Guild has been told that retooling of the newsroom is being reviewed with an eye on the digital future of the Times Union. This may result in some positions being added.

One other Guild-represented position also had a buyout in the circulation department.

In the exempt ranks, there were three buyouts in editorial, one buyout in marketing and one buyout in computer systems.

Approved for posting: KCCII, 11/13/24

The Times Union is unilaterally implementing its plans for health insurance coverage for 2025.The company has not responded to our local’s repeated requests for information about the health insurance coverage and has not responded to requests for the Executive Board to meet with the insurance broker regarding the 2025 health insurance coverage.

Health insurance is a mandatory subject of bargaining. The company has negotiated with the pressmen and the mailers locals on health insurance.

The company has acted to change our health insurance coverage, which is provided under Section 14 Welfare, Pension, Alternate Benefits and Death Benefits in our contract, without discussion of any details.

Publisher George R. Hearst III has been told that the Albany Newspaper Guild is weighing filing an unfair labor practice charge.

The Albany Newspaper Guild is consulting with our parent union, The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America on this matter.

Unfortunately, due to the company’s refusal to answer the local’s questions, we’ve been unable to conduct a comprehensive review and to present the insurance issues to the membership.

The company insurance enrollment period is starting this week.

Approved for posting: KCCII, 11/5/24

The Albany Newspaper Guild membership unanimously approved an agreement of the voluntary separation incentive program with the Times Union Thursday night October 17, 2024 during a special meeting.

Under the terms of the agreement, unit members have until 5 p.m. Friday, October 18, 2024 to apply for the buyout.

The extension of the application date, agreement on the separation language, appeal to Publisher George R. Hearst III if an application is rejected and payout of accumulated time were among the features of the buyout agreement.

Anyone taking the buyout will receive from 13 to 52 weeks of pay and an equivalent amount of health insurance. The payout is based on length of service at the Times Union.

Members were reminded that if their applications were accepted and they rejected it they would be considered to have resigned. The Guild was advised by its attorney that this would be considered legal.

Anyone who rejects the buyout after being accepted and is dismissed could sue the Times Union under the federal Older Workers Protection Act.

During the meeting, discussion was held about the number of applications made so far by Guild members and exempt managers, the tax implications, receiving accumulated time off and health insurance.

Any questions about the buyout should be directed to Local President Ken Crowe by email at ken@albanyguild.org or by calling him at 518-505-0610. He will be available Friday, October 18, 2024 to answer questions.

All buyout applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday October 18, 2024 at the Human Resources Office using the form supplied by the Times Union.

Approved for Posting: KCCII, 10/17/24

The Albany Newspaper Guild membership and Executive Board met Thursday, October 10, 2024 to discuss the Times Union’s offer of voluntary buyouts to reduce the size of the staff.

President Ken Crowe briefed the membership on the current situation and the local’s concerns about The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act not being followed. The Guild has consulted its Barbara Camens, the TNG-CWA attorney, who has worked closely with our local over the years.

The Executive Board’s major concern is the legal protection of our members.

About 50 percent of the local’s members are covered by the OWBPA which applies to workers 40 or more years old.

The board authorized Crowe to take any action necessary. He said he would advise the board before any steps are taken.

The Guild is actively bargaining with the Times Union over the buyout proposal.

While the company has set a deadline it must bargain in good faith with the Guild and deadlines cannot be unilaterally insisted upon.

FRIDAY TALKS
Crowe and Publisher George Hearst met via a telephone call on Friday, October 11, 2024, to continue discussions on the buyout.

The Guild formally requested the proposed separation agreement, which it was advised it is legally entitled to receive. This was done to ensure members will be aware of what they may be signing and for the Guild to bargain on. The Guild has been reviewing prior separation agreements that have been made since 2011.

Crowe advised Hearst that the Guild has legal concerns about the termination of an employee who rejects the offer after applying for it. Talks are expected to continue next week.

Regarding the contract, these talks remained off the record. There was a wide-ranging discussion on the health insurance coverage and salaries. The Guild leadership and stewards has contacted the entire unit membership which has made it clear it wants to see annual contractual raises.

Both sides agreed that a schedule of meetings should be set to reach a new contract. The Guild has stressed to members that it would like to complete bargaining by the end of October.

Approved for posting: KCCII