Remote Work to Continue

The return to working in the building has been delayed. No return date has been set. That will depend on the developing COVID-19 situation

Times Union management and the Guild leadership are monitoring the COVID-19 situation.

The Guild requested a delay in the return Sunday night due to the rising COVID-19 infection rates in the Capital Region and nationally. After some discussions, management decided to put off the pending September and October return dates.

The Company will give two weeks notice to employees before returning to the main plant. The Company is allowing hybrid work schedules.

Should any issues or questions arise, please contact the Guild office at office@albanyguild.org, an Executive Board member or steward.

Vaccination Stats

Nearly every member of our unit is vaccinated. Only 10 members are not vaccinated. The Guild urges you to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, colleagues and friends.

There is a week left to inform the Times Union whether you have been vaccinated against COVID-19. You are required to do this.

The company sent out a notice earlier this week: “Between now and August 20, if you haven’t already done so, please provide proof of your vaccination status to our Human Resources office.”

The company suggested taking a photo of your vaccination card and emailing it to Ruth Fantasia at rfantasia@timesunion.com or Marybeth Snyder at msnyder@timesunion.com in the Human Resources office.

The information is to determine the vaccination rate at the Times Union as the return to office plans are determined.

The Guild urges you to do this. The Guild also urges you if you have not yet been vaccinated to get a shot to protect yourself, your colleagues, friends and family.

The Guild and the Times Union have agreed Wednesday that the return to office schedule will be delayed due to COVID-19 infection rates in the Capital Region.

The new schedule calls for those who were to return on Aug. 16 to now go back on Sept. 7. Those who were to initially return on Sept. 7 will now go back on Oct. 4.
This schedule may be changed again based on the COVID-19 infection rates. The Guild and the Times Union agreed to monitor the numbers as the Delta variant continues to be prevalent.

If you have any questions, contact the Guild at office@albanyguild.org, an Executive Board member or your shop steward.
Please stay safe!

The Guild and the Times Union agreed Wednesday that the return to office schedule would be delayed as the Capital Region leads the state in COVID-19 infections.

The new schedule calls for those who were to return on Aug. 16 to now go back on Sept. 7. Those who were to initially return on Sept. 7 will now go back on Oct. 4.

This schedule may be changed again based on the COVID-19 infection rates. The Guild and the Times Union agreed to monitor the numbers as the Delta variant continues to be prevalent.

You Must Get Vaccinated

The Guild and the Times Union also discussed protecting our colleagues, families and friends from getting infected with COVID-19. The company is requiring everyone to get vaccinated and to provide proof to human resources. You must do this.

In the past week, the Guild has heard from members concerned about their children who are too young to be vaccinated and regarding family members who immunologically compromised and face health issues. These issues have been raised with the Times Union. The delay in the return to the office and getting vaccinated will help protect everyone from COVID-19 and protect these family members.

Under the law, the company can mandate vaccinations. The vaccinations also will fulfill our contractual guarantees to a safe and healthy work environment. The only exceptions to the mandate are to provide an excuse based on religion or for a medical condition. The Guild and the Times Union discussed this situation.

The Guild urges you to get vaccinated if you have not yet done so. If you are vaccinated, provide the required proof to the company as indicated in a companywide email sent Wednesday at about 5:20 p.m.

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the Guild at office@albanyguild.org, a Guild executive board member or your shop steward.

The Guild and the Times Union discussed the COVID-19 situation on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. These latest discussions were continuation of the talks both sides have held on a regular basis since the pandemic struck in early 2020.

Please help protect our colleagues, friends and families.

The Executive Board decided Sunday that given the increasing COVID-19 infection rates that a meeting should be held to seek a delay in the return to the office. Exposure to the Delta variant is too dangerous to be ignore.

Local President Ken Crowe sent a letter Sunday to Publisher George Hearst and Human Resources Director Ruth Fantasia requesting a meeting. They asked for a delay to consult with corporate.

On Wednesday, Crowe, Hearst and Fantasia met. It was agreed that the Aug. 9 return would be postponed until Aug. 16. This does not impact the September return planned for some.

The company will send out an email announcing the one week delay.

The Guild is monitoring the COVID-19 rates in the Capital Region. Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties have all exceeded the CDC levels that would require wearing a mask indoors.

The Guild will request additional meeting and action as the as the review of infection rates dictate.

Corporate is apparently pushing to get employees back into the newspaper offices around the country.

Everyone is supposed to be able to have a hybrid schedule mixing work in the office and work at home. If you are anxious about returning to the office let the Guild know via office@albanyguild.orgor contacting an officer or your shop steward. The Guild will bring your concerns to the company.

The company has asked that you let Ruth Fantasia know at rfantasia@timesunion.com know whether or not you are vaccinated. Currently, 53 percent of the employees have been vaccinated. They don’t know the vaccination status of about 45 percent.

Any questions contact the Guild office, officers or stewards

The Albany Newspaper Guild membership unanimously approved a buyout agreement with the Times Union at a special meeting held Monday night, June 21, 2021.

Executive Board Member Jeff Boyer will sign the agreement on behalf of the Guild Tuesday afternoon at the Times Union building.