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Severance Packages Approved
At a membership meeting held Monday night on Zoom, the Albany Newspaper Guild unanimously approved two enhanced severance packages.
One package covers the Advertising Art sub-department, while the other package is for other departments.
The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America Contracts Committee gave its support for the enhanced severance. The local’s Executive Board approved the enhanced severance at its January 2022 meeting and set the membership meeting.
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Membership Meeting
An Albany Newspaper Guild membership meeting has been called for 6 p.m. Monday January 17, 2022 to vote on an enhanced severance package for the Advertising Art Department and other departments at the Times Union.
The local Executive Board recommends approval. The News Guild-CWA Sector Contracts Committee has approved the terms.
The package for advertising art call for severance pay, equivalent health insurance and pension credits.
The other package calls for improved severance payments, an equal amount of health insurance.
In both cases health insurance coverage may be taken in coverage or in a negotiated amount of cash; unemployment will not be contested; signing of a separation agreement is required and accumulated benefits will be paid.
The membership meeting will be held via Zoom due to the high number of positives COVID-19 cases in the Capital Region.
Email office@albanyguild.org for Zoom login info.
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Membership Updates
Bonus Payment
The Local’s Executive Board has approved at its December meeting a one-time bonus payment by the Times Union to Guild-represented employees who aren’t paid commissions.
The company said the bonus most likely will be 1 percent of annual salary (that’s $500 if you earn $50,000). This is similar to what occurred in 2020.
Severance Vote
The membership at a special meeting Dec. 9, 2021 approved a special severance package for unit members who are not vaccinated. They will receive up to 8 weeks pay, the equivalent amount of health insurance in coverage or cash and can apply for unemployment.
Christmas and New Year’s Day
Just a reminder that under our contract Dec. 25 is the Christmas Holiday and Jan. 1 is the New Year’s Day Holiday.
The company sent out the wrong information but at the Guild’s request has corrected it with a follow up email. If you opt not to take the holiday on the Friday before or the Monday after and Saturday is your normal day off you can take a make-up day.
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Special Membership Meeting
A special Albany Newspaper Guild membership meeting has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday December 9, 2021 to vote on a severance package for three unit members who have opted not to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Severance, unemployment and health insurance coverage would not be offered in this case except for a tentative agreement reached with the Times Union.
The package calls for two to eight weeks of severance pay, an equal amount of weeks in health insurance coverage, which may be taken as a cash payment, unemployment, signing of a separation agreement and accumulated benefits.
The membership meeting will be held via Zoom due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Capital Region. Email us at office@albanyguild.org for Zoom login information.
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Officers Elected
Ty Stewart was elected vice president of the Albany Newspaper Guild and David Johnson was elected as an At-Large Member of the local Executive Board at the local’s annual membership meeting.
Ty and Dave will serve the remaining 16 months in the 3-year terms of office for each of the two positions.
Ty previously was an At-Large Executive Board member. He takes on the responsibilities of what had been the vacant vice president position on the Executive Board.
Dave was elected to fill the vacancy created when Ty became vice president.
Get Vaccinated
The membership voted unanimously to support all unit members getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
A new executive order announced Thursday by President Joe Biden will require vaccination or weekly testing at employers with 100 or more employees. The Times Union has more than 200 workers.
The vast majority of the unit membership is vaccinated. In meetings with Times Union, management reported that all but 10 unit members are vaccinated. That means more than 90 percent of the local is vaccinated.
The Guild has held discussions with the Company since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. This has resulted in the delay of the return to working in the main building. The Guild continues to monitor the infection rates in the Capital Region.
Serving the employees of the Times Union in Albany, New York since 1934.