UPDATE: The Company is extending the deadline for buyout applications until Monday, October 31, to give more time for people to get answers to questions they have about their pensions.

The Company is offering an across-the-board buyout for employees after negotiating terms Tuesday with Guild leaders.

The offer is for two weeks for every year of service, with a minimum of 15 weeks and maximum of 62. Employees would get health insurance for the same period of time.

For employees in advertising, commissions would be calculated as part of the package based on a 52-week rolling average.

The Company would not challenge unemployment claims, but employees would have to answer questions honestly, disclosing they received a severance package.

The buyout offer was approved by members 45 to 1.

The Company said it is looking to cut staff buildingwide, not just in the Guild, by 10 to 15 people.

The deadline to apply would be Monday, October 24 31. The Company will decide which applications it accepts.

If an employee applies for a buyout, that does not require the person to take it. In fact, an employee can sign a buyout agreement and rescind it within seven days. Employees whose requests for buyouts are accepted would have to leave by year’s end or they could choose to do so sooner. The company said it would inform people if their request is accepted by November 1 8.

To be eligible to vote on the buyout offer, you must be a member in good standing.

Guild leaders also asked if requests for pension calculations could be accelerated for those considering taking a buyout.

The union was represented at the table by Tim O’Brien, Marianne Mahr, Mark Hempstead, Brian Nearing, Michael Huber and Cindy Schultz.

A fundraiser will be held from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, October 15, to raise money for a private family consultation room in Albany Medical Center’s cardiac diagnostic unit that will be dedicated to and named for Jim McGrath, the Times Union’s late chief editorial writer.

The event will be held at the home of Darryl McGrath at 6 Irving Street, Albany, NY. Suggested donation is $10.

Jim was a longtime member of the Guild. Even after being promoted to an exempt position, he continued to offer his support and encouragement. His wife Darryl McGrath noted at his memorial service that Jim often posted supportive messages on the Guild’s website under the name Exempt Brother.

Darryl explained that she got the idea for the consultation room based on her own experience learning that Jim had the heart condition that would later prove fatal.

“It came out of my own difficult experience of hearing that my husband had a form of heart failure while I stood, exhausted, in a busy hallway outside of the cardiac catheterization lab,” she said. “I gave a lot of thought to what could be done to memorialize Jim, and it seemed to me that this was an excellent way to both honor my husband’s long struggle with a cardiac condition, and to help the community.”

This will be a private space where families can hear a diagnosis in private, consult with a chaplain or social worker, meet with a doctor or make a phone call without the entire waiting room listening to a difficult conversation.

The Guild’s Executive Board has already decided to donate $100 in memory of our “Exempt Brother.”

We also encourage our members to attend the event at Darryl’s home. There will be a
string band from Pine Hills, and dancing, food and beer/wine. You can stop by any time from 2-8 p.m. Darryl McGrath asks people to RSVP by emailing her at darryllee@aol.com.

Guild members elected seven people to three-year terms on the Executive Board.

The vote comes as the local continues to gear up for reopening full contract bargaining.

All but one of those elected were incumbents. Jeff Boyer did not seek re-election, and he was replaced on the board by Jennifer Rodd of advertising. Welcome aboard, Jen!

Your Executive Board members are:
• Tim O’Brien of Editorial, President.
• Marianne Mahr of Advertising, Treasurer
• Mark Hempstead of Advertising Art, Secretary
• Brian Nearing of Editorial, Chief Steward
• Michael Huber of the Web Desk, 1st Vice President
• Cynthia Schultz of Editorial, 2nd Vice President
• Jennifer Rodd of Advertising, 3rd Vice President

The board thanks our members for their support. We look forward to continue to work with and for you as we prepare to return to the bargaining table.

time: 12:30 pm
date: Thursday, September 15, 2016
location: Colonie Town Library

The Newspaper Guild of Albany will hold its annual meeting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, September 15, at the Colonie Public Library. All seven seats on the Executive Board are up for election. The terms are for three years. The positions require attendance at the monthly Executive Board meeting, held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Board members develop bargaining proposals, make decisions on health care and other proposals, and decide on any grievances or other issues that arise. It’s also a great way to get to know your colleagues within your own department and in other departments.

Here are the details on how to run for a board seat:

ELECTION INFORMATION:

The positions are President, Treasurer, Secretary, Chief Steward, and First, Second and Third Vice President. The term will continue through December 31, 2019. 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 nomination, the person will be elected at the meeting. If there is more than one candidate for any office, a Local Elections Committee will be appointed and a mail-in ballot election will be held.

Nominations for any office may be from the floor, 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 the local Secretary 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.

New location: Lanthier’s Grove (4 Dunsbach Ferry Road, Latham)

Come out for a day of fun, friendship and fellowship. The picnic is open to members of our union and their immediate families. Singles can bring a guest.

All You Can Eat Picnic. Kitchen Open: Noon–5:00, Beverages till dusk.

Menu: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Veggie Burgers, Pulled Pork on a Roll, Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches, Raw Clam Bar, Chicken Wings, Spare Ribs, Clam Chowder, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Potato and Pasta Salad, Pickles, Potato Chips, Watermelon, Cookies, Beer and Soda.

Recreation: Softball, Volleyball, Bocci Ball, Horseshoes, Basketball, a Game Room and a Pool Table are available.

Join with your union colleagues for a fun day, rain or shine!
RSVP at albanyguild.org/picnic