A message from the President

The dust is still settling from the layoffs imposed by the Company earlier this month, but we’re keeping a watchful eye on where the work goes from the five people who were cut the week of July 15. 

I know the latest cuts have left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths, especially with the error made on the part of the Company, but please remember that the Guild is here to fight for you. There are undoubted protections within our contract that we want to make sure you’re receiving, and the best way to do so is by contacting a board member and learning more about those rights.

Often I’ve heard about how we haven’t received a raise, so why should I pay dues? What is the Guild doing for me?

I, too, was skeptical of whether it was worth the additional deduction in my paycheck that barely covered rent, utilities and the dreaded student loan bills. But then I looked at what our contract truly gave me – better wages than any newsroom I’ve worked in, a no pay cuts clause – which is huge because our industry isn’t seeing raises no matter where you are, and financial security when I retire. 

On top of the securities in the contract, there are Guild members who will be by your side helping you to navigate disciplinary or work environment issues. It’s also an opportunity to tap into the national Guild’s resources. 

Lastly, the dues help to build and maintain the family we’ve created here at the Times Union. From the happy hours and night-out events to Christmas parties and the Guild picnic, we recognize that opportunity for camaraderie and connecting with fellow employees makes us all stronger. 

It’s something the Company is watching carefully because they’ve been trying to break the Guild for years. Don’t let them win. Newsrooms across the country are mobilizing and forming unions. We’re lucky enough to already have a solid base to work off of, and with each member’s input and support we can make our Guild stronger and improve the workplace many of us see as a second home. 

Yours in solidarity,

Amanda Fries

President, Albany Newspaper Guild

A farewell to Guild employees

Through the recent buyouts and layoffs, the Guild is wishing a fond farewell for 10 Guild employees who either took buyouts or were laid off during the Company’s pursuit of reducing the workforce.

We’ll be raising a toast to all those who are leaving (or have left) the Times Union from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the Warehouse Grill & BBQ on Wolf Road. 

flyer_members send-off

Both past and present Guild-eligible employees are welcome, and we encourage everyone to pop in to wish congratulations and all the best in each of our fellow coworkers’ next endeavors.

End of summer picnic

We’ve talked a lot about building camaraderie, and the Guild’s annual picnic is a great way to do that. 

Plans are still being finalized, but you can tentatively mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 15 for the family-friendly Guild picnic. More information on the picnic will be released in the upcoming weeks. 

We’ve switched up the time hoping an after summer, school’s back in session timing will draw more of you out for food, games and friends. There will be plenty of food for past and present Guild members and their loved ones, along with games for adults and children. 

Sales commission plan concerns

The Guild has been made aware of concern over the Company’s recently implemented commission plan, and has been working with Company executives and Guild-eligible employees to determine the best course of action.

We hope to be able to resolve concerns and ensure the established Commission Committee’s recommendations and suggestions are considered by the Company rather than having a plan foisted upon employees. 

While Company executives have ignored Guild outreach thus far on the issue, we intend to continue pushing for dialogue on the matter. Anyone who may be interested in getting involved or providing perspective on the matter, please reach out to Guild President Amanda Fries at amanda@albanyguild.org.

Getting a seat at the table

For too long Guild members haven’t had a genuine seat at the table regarding Company matters, despite regular cuts to the workforce through buyouts and, more recently, layoffs. 

Thankfully, as a union, we can ensure that our rights are being protected and can bring up ideas for improvements to the workplace. This is something the Guild wants to push for, but we need everyone’s input. 

These ideas can be anything from improving interactions between Guild members and management to ways we can tap new revenue sources or save money elsewhere. 

Five Guild jobs were cut by the Company on Wednesday.

The layoffs were on top of five Guild members accepting buyouts that were negotiated by the Guild with the Company, marking a 7 percent reduction in the total Guild workforce.

The Executive Board is working with the Company over concerns that reverse seniority was not followed, a guarantee outlined in our contract. While we stressed multiple times that the Company should be upfront with the Guild regarding what titles were being considered for layoffs so that we could avoid any issues with following the contract, the Company refused to be open with us.

“As a Guild, we’re here to ensure the contract is adhered to,” union President Amanda Fries said. “We’ll continue to work to ensure the Company is following the rights guaranteed to us in the contract, and will fight to protect our members.”

Because of the Company’s error, open positions made available to those who were let go are in flux, but could potentially protect two laid off employees from a complete loss in employment. The Guild will be updating members as information becomes available.

Further, we are examining whether all those who were laid off were done so appropriately and the work won’t be ferreted out to contractors or absorbed by non-Guild-eligible employees.

This reduction does not include any cuts in exempt employees at the Times Union, which the Company has refused to reveal how many are being eyed. 

The extended deadline for people to apply for buyouts yielded two additional members, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

The Times Union notified the Guild on Thursday that two buyouts had been accepted by the Company, but couldn’t say when or how many employees may have to be laid off.

We hope to know more early next week, but in the meantime, the Guild wants to work with members on tackling workplace issues and coming up with solutions that improve our work environment.

A reduction in the workforce puts added stress on all of us, and all employees should have a seat at the table to discuss how we can move forward.

Over the years, we’ve seen the Times Union shrink significantly, losing talented employees along the way. We certainly are not alone. Newspapers across the country have been gutted, skeletons of what they once were.

During these times, each employee plays a vital role in ensuring the product gets out to subscribers. We’ve heard from members recently about issues with scheduling and not getting management support.

But as a Guild, we have the opportunity to address that and offer solutions to other workplace issues, so everyone enjoys a better work environment.

Any members who have ideas and want to be a part of the dialogue should contact the Guild at amanda@albanyguild.org.

Has your title changed in recent years?

Are you vulnerable to being laid off despite your years of service? 

As we unfortunately learned from layoffs in 2009, the Company now lays off Guild-eligible employees by job title and not by department, which was previously the case through the Guild contract. 

By shifting layoffs to job title rather than department, the seniority pools have shrunk, putting more people at risk to a layoff should the Company pursue such action. 

Title changes over the years for Guild-eligible employees could have made you vulnerable to layoffs by putting you on a lone island with a new title. If you, or a coworker, has had a title change please contact the Guild to determine seniority and whether the position was negotiated and agreed to by the Board. 

If you have any questions or general concerns about your status and seniority, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Board members. We’re here to make sure the contract we have in place still protects your rights as an employee at the Times Union.

You can reach out to the Guild generally at office@albanyguild.org, or by calling 518-482-9218. Contact Guild President Amanda Fries directly at amanda@albanyguild.org. 

To my wonderful, hardworking colleagues:

It’s been quite the whirlwind since I was elected Guild president on June 13!

Since then, the Guild has been working to regroup, strategize, connect with members and address issues that have been brought to our attention. To those I’ve met, it’s been such a pleasure chatting with you. To those I haven’t met, I hope to be doing so soon.

We’ve also have had a few successes, as you’ll read later in this post. All of this is important to keep in mind as they’re the benefits and securities that are ensured through our contract and union. Although we’ve struggled to get a fair contract from the Company, there are several protections that still come into play.

One of the most basics is your right to union representation during meetings with your supervisors. You deserve to have someone who is going to represent you and protect your rights, and you can request that representation at any time during a meeting and even prior to a meeting if you believe a “friendly chat” could lead to disciplinary action.

So, as we head into the warmer months of the summer season, don’t ever hesitate to reach out to the Guild because we’re here for YOU.

Yours in solidarity,

Amanda Fries

President, Albany Newspaper Guild

An earlier version of this newsletter went out to Guild-eligible members at the beginning of the week, June 25, and has been updated to note other events that occurred following the newsletter’s issuing. 

Buyout extension

As most of you are aware, the Guild worked with the Company to delay and mitigate expected layoffs by securing an extension on the deadline for Guild-eligible employees to apply for a buyout. The new deadline is now 5 p.m., Friday, July 5.

Read more about this small win for the Guild in an earlier post.

Pension

It has come to the Guild’s attention that new employees are being informed they do not get a pension. This is inaccurate. The Guild pension is protected under our contract, and any changes or eliminates to the retirement benefit must be negotiated.

Here’s a rundown of your benefit: 2019-06-28 Pension Update

Upon releasing this information to Guild-eligible employees, the Company reached out to the Guild claiming that there is a financial impact with the pension to the Times Union. We have not been provided with documentation that proves this claim.

Employee in need of time off

The Company on Friday issued a request on the behalf of a Times Union employee dealing with a health issue who is looking for donated sick time. Negotiated by the Guild is a provision within the contract that allows members to donate unused sick, or vacation, time to another employee who has used up their accrued time.

Guild members can donate up to three sick days to the employee. Be sure to check your work email, or reach out to the Times Union’s Human Resources department to fill out the proper paperwork if you wish to assist a fellow coworker in need.

Fire relief

After a devastating fire where Guild member Crystal Baumes and her fiancé lost nearly everything, the Guild stepped in to provide financial support in their time of need. Thankfully, no one – not even their cat – was injured in the fire. They are doing well and have found a place to relocate. Baumes said she was thankful for all the assistance she’s received during this time.

The executive board recently approved allowing the president to allocate up to $1,000 to members during crises like devastating fires to members’ homes.

Vacation time and scheduling

In our first week with a new make-up on the executive board, we were success in securing a Guild member’s requested vacation time, which was in jeopardy due to the Company scheduling the member to work on time that had been requested off months prior.

The Board will continue to work for members to ensure that requested time off is honored properly and is investigating other concerns with scheduling in various departments.

Outgoing employee

The Guild ensured an outgoing Guild member and Times Union employee received full pay through their last day as well as fair compensation for their commission in the month of June, after the member was asked to leave prior to their last day.