“A lot of people are nervous about being laid off. This program, it eases their minds.” — Robin Nichols, a Comfortex employee quoted in today’s Times Union.

 

“We took a look at the shared-work plan, but it is not something we’d be interested in.” — Mark Batten, corporate lawyer for the Times Union, rejecting the same program last week.

On the front page of today’s Times Union, a box promotes a story inside on a state program aimed to reduce layoffs. The shared work program enables companies to “lay off” workers a day or two a week, with the employee able to get full benefits and unemployment for the days out of work.

Inside, the story by deputy business editor Eric Anderson details how the program has helped some local businesses and employees.

We in the Guild thought the program sounded interesting too. We brought it to the Company’s attention during bargaining last week (and one committee member had e-mailed George Hearst about it previously.)

After a brief, perfunctory caucus, Batten returned and flat-out rejected the idea. “We do not feel this is an approach that meets our needs,” he said.

So we were of course fascinated to read that at least one newspaper, the Syracuse Post-Standard, is using the program to curtail layoffs.

We don’t understand why the Times Union is so bent on just letting people go. Initially the Hearst Corp. did not want to offer buyouts; it was the Guild that forced the issue.

The story also quotes Lars Lak, president of the Chief Executives’ Network of the Center for Economic Growth: “I know of no one who, after looking at the program, has decided not to do it.”

Apparently he hasn’t talked to George Hearst.

Albany County legislators are backing the members of the Newspaper Guild of Albany in their fight for a fair contract at the Times Union.

The legislators have sent letters to Publisher George Hearst expressing their outrage at the canceling of the union’s contract. You can read one of the letters, from legislator and PEF member Doug Bullock, here.

Others who have sent similar letters include Lucille McKnight, Gary Domalewicz, Donald Rahm, Phil Steck, Ray Joyce, Norma Chapman, Virginia Maffia-Tobler, Bill Aylward, Tim Nichols, Bryan Clenahan, Shawn Morse, Frank Commisso, Patrick Timmins, Ryan Horstmeyer, Chris Higgins, and David Mayo.

Their action comes after the Albany Common Council passed a resolution in support of the Guild by a vote of 14-0. The public is really starting to notice as more and more calls come into the Guild every day offering support. The Guild is extremely grateful for all the public expressions of solidarity.

The Company said Wednesday it would not rule out outsourcing the reporting and editing of local news or outside advertising positions. In fact, no position would be safe from outsourcing.

The Times Union also would not provide any criteria for how layoffs would be determined, and its bargainers said the most senior employee could be laid off and a replacement hired two days later under its proposal.

It was a disturbing night at the bargaining table. Guild negotiators thought they had found a productive path for movement when the Company said at the last session that it would be unlikely to outsource every job in the newsroom.

The Guild then asked a simple question: OK, what positions in editorial would you not look to outsource? The Company could not answer. The union then extended that question to every department: What does the Company see as the core jobs it would not look to hand off to a contractor?

“We are not able to rule any position in or out,” said Mark Batten, one of the company’s two out of town corporate attorneys handling negotiations. The other, Peter Rahbar, was not present nor was Publisher George Hearst.

Guild President Tim O’Brien asked if that meant the reporting and editing of local news could be outsourced.

“I think that’s a possibility,” Battan said.

“Would the Company outsource outside advertising positions?” the union asked.

“It’s something that might be looked at,” Battan replied. “It’s certainly within the scope of our proposal.”

The Company has declined four advertising employees’ requests for a buyout. While the Company did so because it would otherwise have to replace those positions now, Battan said, the Company could decide later to outsource those jobs if the Times Union gets the language it is seeking.

Battan was no more forthcoming when asked detailed questions about the Company’s proposal on layoffs. The Times Union wants to be able to lay off anyone it chooses — and Battan said the Company will provide employees with no information on what criteria would be considered.

“It’s going to roll up from individual managers,” he said, adding the rules could vary from employee to employee.

Asked how an employee would know what to do to avoid being selected for layoff, Battan replied: “There is no definitive advice to give to employees.”

The Guild was joined at the table by International Representative Tim Schick, a past president of our local. He asked if under the company’s language it could lay off the most senior employee and then decide two days later to hire someone new for the same job.

“It could happen under the language we propose,”  Battan said.

The parties are next scheduled to meet from 5:30-8:30 p.m. May 13. Battan asked if the Guild would be able to meet sooner. O’Brien replied the union must work within the schedules of the bargaining team and the International representatives, who are currently  juggling multiple crises at various newspapers, but he said he would check on everyone’s availability.

At the session’s end, O’Brien expressed hope Battan would take the questions the union posed back to his bargaining colleague and Hearst. Getting answers on what core jobs would not be outsourced  would be helpful, he said.

Battan complained the Guild had not presented a new proposal, but O’Brien replied the union had moved as much as the Company. The union leader added, however, that unlike the Company, the Guild has not said it will not move and continues to explore to try to find avenues to an agreement.

The Times Union has declined four employees’ requests for buyouts, the Guild learned Wednesday.

The Company has accepted 16 buyout requests to date and four to five more people may still be granted a buyout. Eleven people have signed the paperwork. Many of the workers will spend their last day at the Times Union Thursday. (Today as most of you are probably reading this.)

All four people whose requests were declined  work in the advertising department.

“If we gave these people a buyout, we’d have to replace them and that defeats the purpose of a buyout,” said Human Resources Director Carole Hess.

But one of the company’s out of town attorneys said that if the Company gained the contract language it wants on outsourcing, those positions could be eliminated at a later date.

Four of the five drivers are also contemplating a buyout as the Company has informed them that their positions are being shifted to independent contractors. Under  the current language on outsourcing, the drivers are the sole employees whose work can be contracted out. (The language also says they cannot be laid off, but the Company told them it would move them to other positions.)

Over the years, that exception to the outsourcing language has meant a decline in unionized drivers from 49 to five and now to zero, an indication of what happens when a company gets the unrestricted ability to outsource.

Capital Region residents are getting the message about the Times Union’s awful treatment of its employees in a whole new way.

An electronic billboard on I-90 contains three rotating messages from the Guild about our contract talks. The Guild also will be able to update and change the message as circumstances change. (This means if we settle the contract, we could put up a message asking people to subscribe again too.)

Two of the messages focus on the Company’s efforts to outsource any and all of our jobs. One says “Fair Contract Now” and encourages people to call Publisher George Hearst at 454-5555.

The billboard is part of the Guild’s ongoing efforts to inform and mobilize the community.

If you’re not driving that way today, you can view the billboard messages here and here