Guild members today delivered the Halloween card our members signed last week.

Inside, the card said “Another year without raises? That’s scary!”

The presentation to Publisher George Hearst was the latest step in our mobilizing effort to make clear that a contract and raises are desired by all members. It’s not just the Guild leadership that wants to see us get a contract that offers flexibility on layoffs and outsourcing without giving the company the blank check it has demanded.

Members Cathleen Crowley and Bill Federman delivered the card to the publisher on behalf of the membership and spoke to Hearst about the members’ support for a fair settlement.

Come to the cafeteria from 12:45 to 1:15 pm today and get a free goodie bag.

You can also sign a very special Halloween card.

If you work the graveyard shift, we’ll drop by the newsroom at 7 p.m. with some goodies for you.

The company chose to accept two buyouts of Guild members, but it is not using the savings to keep a well-respected photographer.

Instead the newspaper will fill a reporting position.

A page designer in editorial and a district manager in circulation had their buyout offer accepted.

Despite that savings, the company chose to let go a photographer originally given notice two weeks ago at the same time as Editorial Cartoonist John de Rosier.

“We are certainly glad to see a reporter hired to replace Dayelin Roman,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “But we had hoped our negotiation of a buyout and finding two willing takers would enable the photographer to keep his job.”

Instead of losing two members, the Guild finds itself losing four and gaining back one.

A manager who also sought the buyout did not have his request accepted, the company said.

Hoping to prevent a photographer from being laid off, Guild members approved a buyout offer Thursday.

One employee has already notified the company of an interest in the buyout. The person has a similar number of years of experience, and the cost and benefit to the company would be similar.

The vote was 45-1, with almost all of the ballots understandably being cast by editorial employees.

Interested members have until 5 p.m. Friday to apply at the Human Resources office.

An exempt manager also commented on the Guild’s blog, asking if supervisors were being allowed to apply and expressing a willingness to take in order to save a job.

The union asked Human Resources Director Ruth Fantasia, who said the offer had not been extended to exempt workers but they were welcome to contact her about their interest. The union informed the manager who had inquired about her response.

“While we hate to lose any more employees, the Guild certainly prefers to see people leave voluntarily rather than be forced out,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “The photographer who has received notice is a great talent, known for his great care and dedication in producing images for the newspaper. With a new press about to come on line that will allow color on every page, his work would be a great asset to the paper. He has the strong support of his colleagues, who are pulling for him to be able to stay.”

A vote on the buyout offer will be held from 12:45-1:30 p.m. and 5:30-6 p.m. today in the Executive Conference Room upstairs that is outside the publisher’s suite. Members are encouraged to arrive at the start time for a discussion.

The buyout offer is two weeks for every year of service, with a minimum of 5 weeks pay. Those who receive it will be able to collect unemployment. Copies of the buyout offer will be available there.

Last week, the Times Union told two employees they would be laid off in 45 days. One remains on the job while awaiting the result of the buyout, while Editorial Cartoonist John de Rosier took the severance pay and left last week.

“We are holding this session as a meeting at two set times, rather than have people stroll in, vote and leave,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “We will still have a ballot box there, but we also want a chance to talk to our members and get their feedback too.”