At Sunday’s Auto Show, Guild members once again took to the streets to let people know how the Times Union wants to be able to “drive jobs out of the Capital Region.”

Members stood outside the Times Union Center distributing bright orange fliers that explained how the newspaper wants to be able to outsource any and all of our jobs. We detailed how the computer system would allow pages in Albany to be laid out in Houston. And we let showgoers know about the Times Union’s desire to be able to lay people off regardless of how long and loyally they have served the newspaper.

“When did worker become a bad word?” one disgusted attendee asked.

In this upcoming week, the parties will meet for four straight days, Tuesday through Friday, in an attempt to negotiate an agreement. But if the Company cancels the contract on Thursday as threatened, Guild members are prepared to do a lot more than leafleting.

As President Tim O’Brien told a breakfast of labor leaders Friday, this negotiation isn’t about wages or benefits. It is about the fundamental reasons workers have a union: to protect them from being laid off when they are experienced but older, when new jobs are hard to come by, and to keep their jobs from being handed off to freelancers, independent contractors and cheap call centers where quality customer service is not provided.

“We will work to negotiate a fair agreement this week, and we hope the Company will realize that it too needs to make substantial movement,” O’Brien said. “But we will not bargain out of fear. If the Company chooses to cancel the contract, it has been amply forewarned of the consequences.”

Ever play that gag when you were a kid? You’d tell some other child about your amazing, superfast running speed. You’d say “I am going to run around the world.” You’d assume a running position, then you’d turn and smile: “Want to see me do it again?”

That’s what it has been like to bargain with the Company this time around.

In his latest memo, Publisher George Hearst says the Company has made a new proposal. Oh, he still wants to be able to lay off anyone the Company chooses regardless of how long and loyal that person’s service. But now as he boots these workers out the door, he’ll give them health care for a little while. We’re sure this is a great comfort to people in their 50s, say, who wonder if they will ever be able to work again, especially if they have ongoing health issues.

Of course, seniority is only one of the huge issues on the table. Mr. Hearst does not say a thing — and the Company did not propose — any changes to the proposal to lay employees off and outsource their jobs. Or to eliminate the no-pay-cuts clause.

But the Guild bargaining team will weigh his proposal and respond. It would have been helpful to get it sooner than on Friday afternoon, so we may take some time Tuesday morning to contemplate our reply before meeting with the Company.

We do find it funny that the Company complained last week that we weren’t moving fast enough, then waited until Friday afternoon to produce this minuscule move. And they expect all of us to believe they are moving superfast when in fact they are standing still.

Albany city leaders will vote Monday on a resolution in support of workers at the Times Union. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday on the second floor of Albany City Hall.

The resolution already has 13 sponsors in a 15-member body. It honors the Albany Guild local on its 75th anniversary but notes the recently changed tone in the relationship with the Hearst Corp.

The Times Union is trying to gut the employees’ contract, allowing management to lay off employees and outsource their work. It  also wants to be able to lay off workers no matter how long or loyal their service.

When the union stood up to the newspaper company, the Hearst Corp., threatened to cancel the Guild’s contract on April 9. Guild leaders have warned that such an unprecedented action would lead to boycotts, picketing and other job actions.

The union has offered concessions in an attempt to resolve the dispute, including wage cuts, reduced overtime and other savings.

In its resolution, the Common Council says it backs the union in its fight.

“This body supports the Newspaper Guild of Albany on the occasion of its 75th anniversary for its long history of dedication to the working men and women of Albany and the Capital Region,” the resolution reads. “This body supports the Guild in its fight to keep experienced, loyal employees at work and to keep jobs in the Capital Region and condemns any attempt by the Times Union to cancel its union’s contract.”

The council further resolves that, should the Times Union cancel the Guild’s contract, “this body will stand in solidarity with the union and will support any and all boycotts, picketing or other efforts necessary to achieve a fair outcome.”

Guild members overwhelmingly approved a buyout offer Wednesday in the hope it would reduce the number of layoffs at the Times Union.

The proposal was approved by a vote of 121-0.

Those who take the buyout would get severance pay as outlined in the contract (generally two weeks per year of service.) They also would get the same number of weeks’ health insurance as they get severance with a minimum of health care through the end of the year.

For example, a person with 20 years’ experience would get 40 weeks’ pay and 40 weeks of health insurance.

Guild leaders had strongly recommended approval of the buyout offer.

“The Company would have been satisfied with just laying people off,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “We fought hard to get a buyout offer that would enable people to leave voluntarily. The more people take the buyout, the fewer will be laid off. This shows that when both sides work together, we can come up with an agreement that is in everyone’s best interest.”

People will have until April 15 to apply to Human Resources manager Carole Hess. If you had notified the Guild of a potential interest in a buyout, you will have to apply again. (If you’re going to be away burning up some “use it or lose it” vacation time, e-mail Carole in advance.)

A total of 16 people had told the Guild they would consider a buyout. Since then, the health insurance offer has been improved. If you want to know what your pension would be if you left, Carole can get that information for you as well. Asking for it does not obligate you to retire. (But don’t just ask her for the sake of asking either. We like Carole, and we don’t want to swamp her any more than necessary.)

Today’s bright, sunny weather made it a perfect day for workers at the state Capitol to venture outside to grab lunch from one of the vendors that line the streets outside the statehouse.

And it was a perfect day for Guild members to be there too, handing out fliers and letting the state workers know about the Times Union’s desire to outsource jobs and lay off people regardless of how long and loyal their service.

The state workers were stunned and angered at the news that the Company has threatened to cancel the Guild’s contract next Thursday. Inside the Empire State Plaza, many unions had gathered for the annual Lobby Day and were outraged at the Times Union’s treatment of its workers.

The Guild has a solid base of support in the Capital Region. This isn’t a town that takes kindly to “minimizing” contracts.