The conventions are held back to back, from April 18-23 in Pittsburgh, Pa. this year. The Guild convention — formally known as the sector conference — starts with registration Thursday, April 18. Guild members from throughout the United States and Canada meet April 19 and 20. Registration for the CWA Convention follows on April 21, with the convention itself held on April 22 and 23. You would fly back to Albany on April 24.

As a delegate, you get to listen to and participate in discussions about the union, seek advice from our International and CWA leaders, and help make decisions on the unions’ future.

Attendance is mandatory for all delegates. Your presence is recorded and absences are noted. Sessions tend to last from 8 a.m. until after 5 p.m. and sometimes 6. You are given a break for lunch.

Delegates are placed on union leave, with their pay provided by the Guild. The union also covers all expenses, including the flight, hotel and meals. After the convention, you’d be expected to provide all documents distributed to the delegates and to make a report to the Executive Board on what occurred there that can be shared with the membership.

If you’re interested in being a delegate, please notify the Guild by February 1, 2013. If there are more nominees than delegate slots, an election will be scheduled.

Guild members approved the health care rate for 2013 by a 59-2 margin.

A little more than 120 members are on the company insurance, so the vote represents about half the membership who take company health care. Some colleagues were out sick or off Wednesday and notified the union leadership that they could not make the vote.

The members will pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76. The company had originally started with a proposal that called for increasing the weekly payment by more than $9. By questioning the numbers, the union was able to reach an agreement for a lower rate.

The increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

The Blue Shield plan will remain unchanged, with the same $750 deductible paid by employees and the same 90/10 split when employees reach the top of the company share of the deductible. (That is $2,000 for a single person, $4,000 in a family plan.)

The Company also agreed to provide a monthly report of how much is paid out in reimbursements and to start the conversation on health care by October 1. Those two steps will help the Guild to prepare earlier for this discussion next fall.

A ratification vote of the membership will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16 on the tentative agreement on heath care costs.

The vote will be held from 12:30–1:30 p.m. and 5:00–6 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room upstairs. Members are encouraged to arrive at the start time for a discussion.

Members must be in good standing to be eligible to vote. If you have any questions about your eligibilty please email the guild office at office@albanyguild.org.

Under the agreement, the union members would pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76. That includes both the year over year premium increase and a share of the company reimbursement.

If ratified, the increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

The Guild’s bargaining team is recommending a yes vote.

The Guild and Company reached a tentative agreement on health care Tuesday, with a ratification vote of the membership to be held next week.

The Guild’s bargaining team is recommending a yes vote.

Under the agreement, the union members will pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76.

If ratified, the increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

“We know any increase in health care costs is difficult for our members when we’ve gone so long without a raise,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “But we worked with the Company to closely scrutinize the numbers and to bring it to something more manageable.”

A vote will be held on the Company premises. The exact date will be determined later this week. We will share details as soon as we have them.

The Guild and Company met Thursday to continue discussing health care costs for 2013.

The parties agreed to go off the record in hopes of working out their differences. They will meet again Tuesday.

The Guild will provide details as soon as we are able.