To my wonderful, hardworking colleagues:

It’s been quite the whirlwind since I was elected Guild president on June 13!

Since then, the Guild has been working to regroup, strategize, connect with members and address issues that have been brought to our attention. To those I’ve met, it’s been such a pleasure chatting with you. To those I haven’t met, I hope to be doing so soon.

We’ve also have had a few successes, as you’ll read later in this post. All of this is important to keep in mind as they’re the benefits and securities that are ensured through our contract and union. Although we’ve struggled to get a fair contract from the Company, there are several protections that still come into play.

One of the most basics is your right to union representation during meetings with your supervisors. You deserve to have someone who is going to represent you and protect your rights, and you can request that representation at any time during a meeting and even prior to a meeting if you believe a “friendly chat” could lead to disciplinary action.

So, as we head into the warmer months of the summer season, don’t ever hesitate to reach out to the Guild because we’re here for YOU.

Yours in solidarity,

Amanda Fries

President, Albany Newspaper Guild

An earlier version of this newsletter went out to Guild-eligible members at the beginning of the week, June 25, and has been updated to note other events that occurred following the newsletter’s issuing. 

Buyout extension

As most of you are aware, the Guild worked with the Company to delay and mitigate expected layoffs by securing an extension on the deadline for Guild-eligible employees to apply for a buyout. The new deadline is now 5 p.m., Friday, July 5.

Read more about this small win for the Guild in an earlier post.

Pension

It has come to the Guild’s attention that new employees are being informed they do not get a pension. This is inaccurate. The Guild pension is protected under our contract, and any changes or eliminates to the retirement benefit must be negotiated.

Here’s a rundown of your benefit: 2019-06-28 Pension Update

Upon releasing this information to Guild-eligible employees, the Company reached out to the Guild claiming that there is a financial impact with the pension to the Times Union. We have not been provided with documentation that proves this claim.

Employee in need of time off

The Company on Friday issued a request on the behalf of a Times Union employee dealing with a health issue who is looking for donated sick time. Negotiated by the Guild is a provision within the contract that allows members to donate unused sick, or vacation, time to another employee who has used up their accrued time.

Guild members can donate up to three sick days to the employee. Be sure to check your work email, or reach out to the Times Union’s Human Resources department to fill out the proper paperwork if you wish to assist a fellow coworker in need.

Fire relief

After a devastating fire where Guild member Crystal Baumes and her fiancé lost nearly everything, the Guild stepped in to provide financial support in their time of need. Thankfully, no one – not even their cat – was injured in the fire. They are doing well and have found a place to relocate. Baumes said she was thankful for all the assistance she’s received during this time.

The executive board recently approved allowing the president to allocate up to $1,000 to members during crises like devastating fires to members’ homes.

Vacation time and scheduling

In our first week with a new make-up on the executive board, we were success in securing a Guild member’s requested vacation time, which was in jeopardy due to the Company scheduling the member to work on time that had been requested off months prior.

The Board will continue to work for members to ensure that requested time off is honored properly and is investigating other concerns with scheduling in various departments.

Outgoing employee

The Guild ensured an outgoing Guild member and Times Union employee received full pay through their last day as well as fair compensation for their commission in the month of June, after the member was asked to leave prior to their last day.

The Guild avoided layoffs Wednesday with an agreement between the Company and the Guild to give members additional time to consider applying for a buyout.

During the afternoon negotiations working with the Company, it was agreed to extend the deadline for all Guild-eligible employees until 5 p.m., July 5.

The agreement reached gives members the opportunity to consider and apply for buyouts before the Company pursues layoffs.

The meeting of the parties was promoted after the Guild challenged the Company’s authority to circumvent provisions written in the contract, specifically not providing proper notification to the Guild.

In part, the Executive Board argued:

“In refusing to provide a 45-day notice to the Guild, we believe the Company is in direct violation of Section 3-C, which states in part:

‘At least forty five (45) work days in advance of the effective date of such discharges, the Company will notify the Guild so that, if requested by the Guild, there may be consultation for the purpose of considering possible means by which the hardship of such discharges may be alleviated.’”

The Company was further reminded it approached the Guild regarding buyouts May 20, and planned to pursue layoffs Wednesday, which is not within the 45-day window.

Board members also requested more information regarding exactly where layoffs were being targeted and written documentation of agreements met between the Company and the Guild for some title changes.

The Executive Board encourages all Guild-eligible employees to reach out to the Board with questions at office@albanyguild.org.

The Times Union has chosen to ignore a 45-day window for notifying the Albany Newspaper Guild about layoffs and informed board members Tuesday they will dismiss eight Guild employees beginning Wednesday, June 26.

Executive Board members urged the Company to consider offering another round of buyouts since the Guild was not informed in writing that layoffs would ensue if there weren’t enough buyouts, but the Company has refused, instead invoking their ability to provide 45 days pay to those who are laid off rather than allow the Guild to attempt to mitigate the need for layoffs through alternative measures.

Previously the Company did not provide a head-count or dollar figure for how much they needed to cut, but indicated to board members Tuesday that the reduction in the workforce is needed to address a 15 percent drop in business (compared to last year for the first half of the year).

Although four Guild members applied for buyouts, only two were accepted by the Company.

Albany Newspaper Guild President Amanda Fries expressed disappointment in the Company’s lack of transparency and good faith in negotiations.

“To think a 2 p.m. meeting (sent four hours beforehand) with board members on the eve of planned layoffs is sufficient notification and negotiating in good faith with the Guild and its members is deplorable,” she said. “Open and honest dialogue between management and employees has been lacking for years, and I won’t stand for it. While the Company may be swinging the ax, it’s imperative members come together at this time and push back as much as possible.”

Official notification of layoffs comes to the Guild less than two weeks from when the Company gave a June 7 deadline for people to apply for buyouts. Guild members approved the buyout offer on May 29.

Imposed conditions indicate “the Company shall provide the Guild with 45 days notice and will attempt to negotiate a buyout agreement.” However, the Company is opting to provide 45 days of pay to those who are laid off.

The Company has said layoffs will be done via seniority, as stipulated in the Guild contract and for which the Times Union came under fire in 2009 for not abiding by.

The Guild is working to determine if the Company’s seniority lists are accurate. Those who have questions and concerns regarding their position should contact board members.

An unspecified number of non-Guild employees also will be laid off.

Employees who are laid off will be given 45 days pay in lieu of the notice, and they will receive severance based on dismissal pay outlined in Section 6-A of the Guild contract. Health insurance would also be paid for an equal number of weeks as dismissal pay.

The Company will pay a year of health care or $1,000 to employees who do not have it through the Company.

The Company has three openings it wants to fill, and those who are targeted for layoffs will get the opportunity to apply for the following and retain employment:

• Part-time NIS desk associate
• Full-time obituary legal position
• Temporary (one-year) position in advertising handling obituaries and automotive.

Following the departure of the Guild’s president Brian Nearing, members elected Amanda Fries as the union local’s new President, Ken Crowe as Vice President, and Ty Stewart as board member at-large on the Guild’s Executive Board.

The three elected to the posts will fill the remainder of the terms—all of which end this year—ahead of a full Executive Board election in September.

The election fills vacancies left by the departures of board members Nearing and Jennifer Rodd.

Fries previously was Vice President for the board, elected to the post in 2017. She is the Albany County and city of Albany reporter at the Times Union.

“I look forward to mobilizing our members internally and creating camaraderie among fellow co-workers who work hard each day to deliver the best product to our readers,” Fries said.

Crowe, who has previously served as President of the Guild, rejoins the Board as Vice President. He is the Troy reporter. Stewart is a graphic artist and a new board member.

Their elections occurred at the local’s membership meeting Thursdayat the meeting hall at Blessed Virgin Mary Church.

For those who couldn’t make the meeting and want to learn more about what the Guild is doing, or have questions or concerns, please reach out to office@albanyguild.org.

On Wednesday, Guild members voted 26-0 to have the company’s buyout offer put on the table for the consideration of individual members.

This vote is a mandated provision of our contract, in which the company must first pursue buyouts before considering potential layoffs, which must be done in reverse seniority order (first in, last out) in each job title.

The company’s offer calls for two weeks pay for every year of service with a minimum of 4 weeks pay and a maximum of up to 62 weeks. Years of service would be calculated as of May 1, 2019 and would not include fractional years.

Concurrent health care coverage would be capped at 52 weeks, even for those who qualify for the buyout beyond 52 weeks pay. Those who choose not to accept that health care would not be bought out for any portion of the value of that declined coverage.

Anyone who would like an exact buyout figure should request one from HR immediately. The deadline for applying for a buyout would be the end of the business day on June. 7 with Human Resources. Filing an application in no way obligates the person to accept a buyout, if offered. The company has sole discretion over accepting or rejecting any and all buyout applications. Anyone who signs a buyout offer has seven days to withdraw it, should they choose.

The company will not challenge unemployment claims. And those who accept buyout payments can preserve their unemployment eligibility if they hold their release form until 22 days after their last day of employment and then sign it, according to Human Resources.

We suggest anyone with questions in this specific regard contact HR as well as their local state unemployment office to ensure this situation. To receive the buyout, workers would have to sign a perpetual release that indicates the worker will make no future claims against the company.