As you are aware, the company has handed out its uneven merit salary increases. While the Guild does not stand in the way of the company offering these increases, the Guild has written a letter to Publisher George Hearst telling him that the Guild’s position will always be that all employees in the bargaining unit have the right to negotiated contractual wage increases across the board.

Raises will surely be a topic of discussion during our contract negotiations that restart on June 10 and will continue on June 17. We would like members to wear their T-shirts and buttons (which are being distributed by Guild Secretary Kathleen Moore in the newsroom and Chief Steward Justin Wisner in advertising) to the Zoom negotiations. The company will not pay you while you show up on the Zoom so you must sign in during your lunch hour or your 15-minute morning or afternoon break. Protocol requires that visitors do not speak during negotiations. However, your presence on screen will be powerful, I assure you.

We are having our quarterly members meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 12 on Zoom. At that time we can discuss how the June 10 negotiations went, the Guild’s filing of the unfair labor practice and future actions we can unite behind. I will send you a link to the Zoom soon. I do hope you can attend.

In solidarity,
Wendy Liberatore
President

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.