The Guild is negotiating a buyout offer after the company informed two editorial employees Wednesday that their positions could be eliminated in 45 days.

Under the imposed conditions, the company must negotiate a buyout offer before any layoffs can occur. The two employees notified of a potential layoff are the least senior in their respective job titles.

The company indicated it would be willing to consider voluntary buyouts instead of letting these workers go if the cost and savings are similar.

The buyout would be along the lines of dismissal pay in the contract: two weeks of pay for every year of service.

The parties are discussing a possible minimum number of weeks. Health care coverage would be provided for the rest of the year, and there would be no challenge to unemployment.

Employees would have until 5 p.m. Friday, October 19, to notify the Human Resources Department if they are interested in the buyout. The company would have final say on accepting any buyouts.

Please join us from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. this Wednesday, September 12, on the patio for free pizza and soda.

Guild members working the evening shift can join us from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the newsroom.

Times Union employees kicked off a campaign today that includes a new video, a a new website and table tents with messages as part of what will be an ongoing effort to communicate that 1,800 days = too long to go without a raise.

Some of the newspaper’s most prominent faces appear in the video and columnist Fred Lebrun even offers his support. The table tents feature messages that include “Respect: a two-street,” “I need a raise” and “We deserve a contract.”

The website, 1800days.info, is the place to go to learn about the campaign.

Committee members Lauren Stanforth, John De Rosier and Ty Stewart all talked about how the new mobilizing committee is a grass-roots effort to show the company that a raise and a contract is a sign of respect for all employees and not just something the union’s leaders want. They all encouraged the members at the kickoff event Tuesday to share their input. If people have an idea for a table tent message, they said, pass it on and it will be printed.

View the video here, let us know what you think and we hope you’ll join your colleagues in the next one.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPsglGwZSYE]

Please join us today from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Colonie Public Library to hear about the campaign kick-off to urge the company to go back to the bargaining table and agree on a contract—one that includes a raise. There will be a special surprise screening at the meeting featuring fellow Guild members, so don’t miss it! We also want to hear from you about your ideas for our campaign going forward.

Wednesday, August 1, marks 5 years, more than 1,800 days since our last raise.

With rising costs, that means there are fewer employees doing more work for less money.

Join us between 2:45–3:15 pm outside Wednesday for free ice cream and to hear about how we can work together for everyone’s benefit.