The members of Albany Newspaper Guild TNG-CWA Local 31034 showed their support for colleagues in the Times Union business office Wednesday during a special vote.

The members voted 54-0 to approve a deal negotiated by the Guild with Times Union Publisher George Hearst for enhanced buyouts for members in the business office, whose jobs are being outsourced to Houston.

The members also voted 53-0 to adopt a change in the dental provider under the overall health insurance package.

“The turnout for the vote shows the Guild’s membership is involved and embracing the changes the Executive Board has promised,” President Amanda Fries said.

The election turnout was 70 percent of eligible voters.  It represented a 160 percent increase in participation since the last vote.

President Amanda Fries led bargaining teams that reached resolutions a week earlier on the enhanced buyout package and health insurance. The Guild Executive Board voted unanimously to recommend the membership back the measures.

The vote came a week after the membership elected the Executive Board to three-year terms.

The buyout and insurance votes were counted and certified Wednesday by Vice President Ken Crowe and At-large Board Member Jeff Boyer.

A special vote will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 to approve a health insurance package for 2020 as well as an enhanced buyout for impacted employees in the business office.

Earlier this month, the Company approached the Executive Board and business office employees about outsourcing the work done of five of the six employees in the office. Through negotiations an enhanced buyout package was reached to compensate the employees who have worked at the Times Union for many years.

Guild members are very pleased the Company is offering a non-precedent setting buyout package removing the 62-week cap for dismissal pay to compensate the longtime employees, providing 12 months of health insurance coverage as well as a $5,000 stipend for employees who have been asked to train their replacements in Houston.

For business office employees who take on another role at the Times Union, they will receive a $10,000 displacement payment.

The Executive Board unanimously approved the buyout package at a special meeting Wednesday, and recommends approval by the membership.

The proposed plan for health insurance in 2020 will drop $0.29 for those on the $850 deductible plan with MVP Healthcare. The deductible remains the same.

For members paying for the high-deductible ($3,000) there will be a slight increase depending on if you are single, single plus one, or have family coverage. This deductible will remain the same as well. If you’re single you’ll see a $1.07 increase each week in your paycheck for health insurance. For a single plus one, the increase will be $2.14 per week, and for family coverage it will increase $3.21 per week.

These figures are subject to change should the Company secure a lower rate with MetLife for dental, which in turn could reduce costs to members. The above estimates include Delta Dental for coverage. The coverage is changing from Guardian due to lower rates secured from other carriers.

Voting on both measures will be conducted in the Times Union cafeteria, and efforts will be made to make voting as easy as possible. Times will be announced prior to voting Wednesday.

At the annual meeting of the Albany Newspaper Guild held Tuesday, Sept. 24, the following people were nominated and elected by members to serve three-year terms on the executive board:

Amanda Fries, President
Ken Crowe II, Vice President
Jayson McKenna, Treasurer
Lauren Stanforth, Secretary
Robert Gavin, Chief Steward
Jeff Boyer, At-large member
Ty Stewart, At-large member

Also at the meeting, the president discussed other issues currently facing the Guild, including the negotiations involving Hearst’s stated intention to eliminate Guild staff in the business office, as well as the Guild’s future plans to conduct more outreach among its membership.

The membership also voted on allocating $5,000 for the mobilization committee.

The Executive Board was thrilled to see so many people from various departments attend the meeting (the best turnout for an annual meeting in many years!). We look forward to reaching out to you about new initiatives in the months ahead, as well as keeping you updated on any information we can share concerning ongoing negotiations with Hearst Corp.

As always, please reach out to any of the board’s members for questions or issues you want to discuss confidentially.

Thank you for your support!

The Newspaper Guild of Albany will hold a membership meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the BVMC Church Hall across the street at 250 Old Maxwell Rd.

All seven seats on the Executive Board are up for election. The terms are for three years.

The positions require attendance at the monthly Executive Board meeting, held at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Board members develop bargaining proposals, make decisions on health care and other proposals, and decide on any grievances or other issues that arise. 

Also, this will be an opportunity for members to raise any issues or concerns, and to hear about any potential new approaches toward reaching a new contract.

View the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting below:

9.25.19 membership agenda

A message from the President

I’d like to take the time to highlight the people truly behind the staffing and general operations at the Times Union. You probably already know, but it bears a special letter just for them – the Hearst Corporation. 

They’re a special group of folks led by President and CEO Steve Swartz, who is also the vice-chairman of the Business Roundtable. 

The Business Roundtable last month put out a statement redefining the purpose of corporations, in essence stating their commitment is no longer just to shareholders but to “all stakeholders.” Members of the chief executives group say it’s time to invest in their employees, support the communities they work in and “deal fairly and ethically” with suppliers. 

::slow clap::

Swartz signed on to this new mission among some of the most wealthy CEOs, and I certainly look forward to him putting his money where his mouth is. So far, that really hasn’t been the case.

I think all of us here at the Times Union can confirm that there’s been no investment in its employees for over a decade. Indeed, not only have we not received raises in over 12 years, the Company has cut and cut and cut. New, functioning equipment also is hard to come by, despite working in a media industry that demands the best, high-functioning equipment. 

As for our customers, I can confirm they’re disappointed with delivery based on the sheer number of calls, emails and general messages we receive about someone’s paper not being delivered. Please don’t get me started on the website, another thorn in our sides at the Times Union that is dictated by the Hearst Corporation. 

This is all to say that, yes, often the decisions to cut staff or reorganize a department isn’t coming from anyone in the Times Union building. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t push back and demand better, especially considering the decisions being made at “the Tower” or in New York City are so haphazard I reckon a kindergartener may be at the helm. 

So while the Business Roundtable has waxed poetic about investing in their employees, I encourage everyone not to hold their breath. Instead, call out the hypocrisy and demand better. 

Yours in solidarity,

Amanda Fries
President, Albany Newspaper Guild

Company targets layoffs in business office

The Company notified Guild board members Friday that they’re looking to outsource the work done in the business office to Houston in order to save $150,000.

The news was given simultaneously to business office employees, who have been left in the lurch in recent weeks as managers began approaching employees to see if someone would be willing to transfer to a vacant position in the advertising department.

Guild board members met with employees in the business office immediately following the news and are working together to identify other options we can take to retain the work and move forward.

The Company initially had indicated to the Guild that they’d be looking to cut one person from the business office, but would save that person’s job by offering them the position in advertising. Friday’s news strayed from this initial portrayal, with executives indicating they’re looking to execute the layoffs by mid-October. 

Under the imposed conditions forced upon the Guild in 2009, the Company must first bargain with the Guild before any work can be outsourced. The Company must provide details on the costs and other benefits of outsourcing the work compared to keeping it in-house. We have requested this information from the Company, to be provided by Wednesday, Sept. 11.

No managers, exempt employees targeted for layoffs

The Company targeted Guild employees only in the recent round of layoffs that cut five Guild members from the Times Union. 

No managers, or other exempt employees at the Times Union were laid off by the Company, despite indications that executives were looking at all options to cut costs and save money. 

It’s unclear whether the Company’s latest pursuit of layoffs in the business office includes any exempt employees. 

It’s important to note those who were cut were among the least senior staff across the Times Union, one of them even a part-time employee, begging the question of what savings the Company really saw with the latest cuts. 

Less than a week until the Guild picnic

Despite the latest somber news on the decimation of Guild staff, make sure to RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 11, for the annual Guild picnic. 

The event will be hosted from 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Six Mile Waterworks park in Albany and catered by the Birch Hill Catering. 

Please let us know if you and your family members can attend so we have an accurate headcount ahead of the picnic. 

Food will include hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken and veggie burgers, along with an assortment of sides and drinks. The picnic is family-friendly and everyone is welcome, including Guild alumni and employees who may not be in good standing with the Guild.

Proactive measures taken by Guild to negotiate health insurance

The Guild plans to reach out to the Company this week to formally request information regarding health insurance.

The Company typically approaches the Guild to negotiate these matters, but it has often been at a detriment to members because of the small window given to come to a final decision. 

As we’re all well aware, health insurance costs continue to go up for our members, and the Guild is committed to getting the fairest offer for health insurance coverage.