In an outstanding act of generosity and a sign that the labor movement sticks together, the Buffalo Newspaper Guild has pledged to send $300 a month through the rest of the year to assist Lindsay Connors, a single mother of four who was unfairly targeted and fired by the Times Union.

Here’s what the leadership there said in their bulletin:

“After hearing Lindsay’s story of courage in Orlando and later applauding her winning of the Guild’s Service Award, we were shocked to learn of her callous firing by the Company. We wanted to help Lindsay and her family and a monthly monetary donation will provide some immediate relief,” local representative Tammy Turnbull, who encouraged the Buffalo local to act.

Connors in April helped lead a session on workplace bullying at the Newspaper Guild’s multi-council meeting in Orlando, Fla., where she also received the Guild’s highest honor, the Service Award, presented for outstanding local leadership.

“We thought it was important to help Lindsay and to show solidarity with her and the issues she confronted,” said Guild President Henry L. Davis.

The Albany Guild is truly grateful for this show of support as our local prepares a legal case in support of Lindsay.

It has been some six weeks since the Albany Newspaper Guild made its latest off-the-record offer to management in hopes of finally settling a contract. So far, the company has not reacted to the offer, which appears elsewhere in this blog.

Given that Times Union workers have endured a wage freeze for seven years, now is the time for meaningful negotiations, in which rigid positions give way to pragmatic compromise. Everyone is committed to the continued success of the Times Union, and the people who make it what it is need a fair deal, at long last.

Based on increases in the cost of living, as measured by the U.S. Social Security Administration, people who work at the Times Union have seen their standard of living drop by nearly a fifth during this contract dispute (and that is not including the increasing costs of heath insurance). That is too much burden to place on working families for so long and the time to begin to lift it is now…

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Lindsay’s colleagues know she is an outstanding employee who was wrongfully fired. The Guild is preparing a legal case to challenge this decision but her co-workers don’t need to wait for anyone to tell them what the Times Union did is wrong. They know full well just how good a worker Lindsay is as you can hear in their heartfelt comments.

Please join us next Friday for this great event. March with us or stop by afterward for the labor celebration.

Michael L. Burns Labor Parade
September 5, 6–10 PM at the Corning Preserve in Albany

Stand with your Brothers and Sisters! This annual parade will be directly followed by a free picnic with food, fireworks, entertainment, and giveaways.

After almost a month, Guild members are still awaiting a response to the union’s July 31 proposal to settle the entire contract.

On August 14, Guild President Tim O’Brien sent Publisher George Hearst an email asking when a response could be expected. The publisher never replied.

On Tuesday, O’Brien went into human resources to ask Ruth Fantasia when a reply could be expected. She said the company’s proposal would be reviewed at a corporate meeting next week.

“Our members have waited seven years for a raise and six for a contract,” O’Brien said. “We have made a fair settlement offer, and the Company needs to stop the foot-dragging and give us a response.”