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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.
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Annual Membership Meeting
The annual membership meeting of the Albany Newspaper Guild, Local 31034, TNG-CWA has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday September 9, 2021. Due to the continuing coronarvius pandemic the meeting will be held via Zoom.
At the meeting members will be asked to fill the vacancy of vice president and to act on any other Executive Board vacancies that may occur. The member elected vice president will serve the remaining 16 months of the term of office. (Election Information is posted below)
You must be a member in good standing (paying dues) to participate in the meeting and to vote on any measures that come before the local.
The membership will also be asked to elect delegates to represent the Local at any TNG-CWA meetings for the year ahead.
Any other matters may also be brought up at the annual meeting.
The monthly Executive Board meeting will follow on the same Zoom call.
Please email office@albanyguild.org for Zoom login info.
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Elections — Vice President, delegates for year and any other vacancies.
- Update on COVID-10
- Update on TNG support
Election Information:
The open position is Vice-President. The term will run through December 31, 2022.
Members must be in good standing to run for office and to attend the nomination meeting. If you want to check your standing, email the Guild office at office@albanyguild.org.
If there is only one nomination for any office, and the person accepts the nomination, the person will be elected at the meeting. If there is more than one candidate for any office, a Local Elections Committee appointed by the Executive Board will conduct a mail-in ballot election.
Nominations for the office may be from the floor or by petition. Petitions may be for an individual candidate in which the name of the candidate, his/her Local unit (if applicable), and department worked listed. Such petitions must also contain the names of at least 25 members. Individuals signing a petition must be members in good standing. These petitions must be filed with Local Secretary Massarah Mikati before the election at the membership meeting. The secretary shall notify all candidates of their nomination and shall receive from them a written notice of their willingness to serve.
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Update on Return to Building
Remote Work to Continue
The return to working in the building has been delayed. No return date has been set. That will depend on the developing COVID-19 situation
Times Union management and the Guild leadership are monitoring the COVID-19 situation.
The Guild requested a delay in the return Sunday night due to the rising COVID-19 infection rates in the Capital Region and nationally. After some discussions, management decided to put off the pending September and October return dates.
The Company will give two weeks notice to employees before returning to the main plant. The Company is allowing hybrid work schedules.
Should any issues or questions arise, please contact the Guild office at office@albanyguild.org, an Executive Board member or steward.
Vaccination Stats
Nearly every member of our unit is vaccinated. Only 10 members are not vaccinated. The Guild urges you to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, colleagues and friends.
Serving the employees of the Times Union in Albany, New York since 1934.