The Guild is considering holding a social event called “The Book in the Drawer.”

Many newspaper employees keep a novel in progress in a bottom drawer, hoping some day to get it published.

We thought you might like to hear some of your colleagues’ prose or to get a chance to read some of your scribblings to an audience of (hopefully) appreciative listeners. It can be nonfiction as well.

If we’re going to try this, we’d first like to see how many people would be interested in reading so we can determine how much time each person would get. (No, you can’t read the whole thing.)

CLICK HERE to show your interest.

With the shifting landscape in the Times Union, some of us may be called in for meetings about our performance. Did you know we have the right to have a union representative present during discussions about our performance? We do.

Guild stewards can witness and participate in the conversation. If necessary, they are familiar with typical performance plans and can help make sure you get a fair deal.

Anytime you believe a meeting is about your performance — before the meeting,
during the meeting — you can say “I respectfully request union representation.” Do not ask your manager if you need union representation — say that you want it. 

At the very least, tell a union representative after the meeting so the union can guide, help and advocate for you. Don’t wait. The earlier the union knows there is a problem, the more it can do to help.

We also have the right to ask managers to provide information comparing our performance to our peers. If management won’t provide it, the Guild can request it on our behalf. Management has a legal obligation to respond to a union request.

Remember: ask for union representation. It’s your right.

The conventions are held back to back, from April 18-23 in Pittsburgh, Pa. this year. The Guild convention — formally known as the sector conference — starts with registration Thursday, April 18. Guild members from throughout the United States and Canada meet April 19 and 20. Registration for the CWA Convention follows on April 21, with the convention itself held on April 22 and 23. You would fly back to Albany on April 24.

As a delegate, you get to listen to and participate in discussions about the union, seek advice from our International and CWA leaders, and help make decisions on the unions’ future.

Attendance is mandatory for all delegates. Your presence is recorded and absences are noted. Sessions tend to last from 8 a.m. until after 5 p.m. and sometimes 6. You are given a break for lunch.

Delegates are placed on union leave, with their pay provided by the Guild. The union also covers all expenses, including the flight, hotel and meals. After the convention, you’d be expected to provide all documents distributed to the delegates and to make a report to the Executive Board on what occurred there that can be shared with the membership.

If you’re interested in being a delegate, please notify the Guild by February 1, 2013. If there are more nominees than delegate slots, an election will be scheduled.

Guild members approved the health care rate for 2013 by a 59-2 margin.

A little more than 120 members are on the company insurance, so the vote represents about half the membership who take company health care. Some colleagues were out sick or off Wednesday and notified the union leadership that they could not make the vote.

The members will pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76. The company had originally started with a proposal that called for increasing the weekly payment by more than $9. By questioning the numbers, the union was able to reach an agreement for a lower rate.

The increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

The Blue Shield plan will remain unchanged, with the same $750 deductible paid by employees and the same 90/10 split when employees reach the top of the company share of the deductible. (That is $2,000 for a single person, $4,000 in a family plan.)

The Company also agreed to provide a monthly report of how much is paid out in reimbursements and to start the conversation on health care by October 1. Those two steps will help the Guild to prepare earlier for this discussion next fall.

A ratification vote of the membership will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16 on the tentative agreement on heath care costs.

The vote will be held from 12:30–1:30 p.m. and 5:00–6 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room upstairs. Members are encouraged to arrive at the start time for a discussion.

Members must be in good standing to be eligible to vote. If you have any questions about your eligibilty please email the guild office at office@albanyguild.org.

Under the agreement, the union members would pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76. That includes both the year over year premium increase and a share of the company reimbursement.

If ratified, the increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

The Guild’s bargaining team is recommending a yes vote.