How would the Times Union rate if its own employees completed the Top Workplaces survey?

Now we can find out. Fill out our Times Union Workplace Survey now or join us in the cafeteria on Thursday to fill out the survey and fill up with a free cupcake.

In its annual Top Workplaces issue Sunday, the Times Union said employees “being valued” is one of the main characteristics of a good place to work.

The newspaper isn’t eligible for its own award, but we wondered what employees would say. How would Times Union workers rate the TU on statements like “I feel genuinely appreciated at this company” and “I have confidence in the leadership of this company”? So we took the questions published in the section and created our own survey.

And to make it convenient for you, the Guild will also have some smartphones available from 12:30–1:30 pm Thursday in the cafeteria for you to complete it. Come on down and we’ll give you a free cupcake.

If that time doesn’t work, you can do the survey on your own computer, tablet or smartphone. Or you can contact Guild President Tim O’Brien via text at 466-8700 or email at tim@albanyguild.org to arrange a time for you to fill it out.

We’ll share the results.

Guild Members approved the buyout offer at today’s Membership meeting. It is intended for graphic artists in the hopes of saving two people from layoff. It is two weeks per year of service up to 15 weeks, with health insurance for the same period of time.

The Guild and Company agreed to a buyout offer that is very limited, with only graphic artists eligible to take it. The Times Union approached the Guild wanting to eliminate jobs held by two of our members. The Company is making changes to the magazine division, moving it down to become part of the editorial department.

We represent two excellent employees in the magazine division, and the Company emphasized the decision was financial. The quality of their work, all parties agreed, is excellent.

Under the imposed conditions, the parties must try to negotiate a buyout offer before any layoffs can occur. It is always the union’s preference that a person leave voluntarily.

Because the most senior of the two employees has been with the Times Union for 5 years, the Company wanted to limit the buyout to two weeks per year of service for a maximum of 15 weeks. An employee taking the buyout would get health care for the same time number of weeks. The company would not challenge an unemployment claim, though unemployment might require someone to wait until the buyout money is exhausted before collecting it.

Anyone taking the buyout would receive all benefits, including vacation and pension accrual, they are entitled to receive.

The Guild continues its ongoing social media campaign with a new message on the marquee at the Times Union Center. This message tells people to keep up with the latest on our web page, our twitter hashtag #tufamilies or through our Facebook postings.

Our members just wrapped up a Facebook campaign posting pictures of themselves holding signs about what the ongoing 7.5 year wage freeze means to them. We have also launched a Twitter effort using the Peeps candy _ joined with the #tupeeps hashtag being used by the newspaper _ to highlight the wage freeze.