JRC Bulletin.

September 28, 2011

 

Bring Us the Decider

 

You ever talk to that bored-looking teenager at the counter and realize you’re getting nowhere because this kid either doesn’t know the answers, or isn’t authorized to answer?

 

Well, that’s where we are folks. We’ve asked to see the manager.

 

Seven months in, and now using a federal mediator and we still have yet to receive a single answer to any of our contract proposals. Not one.

 

It is no longer deniable that Publisher Tom Abbott (or whatever he is now in the alternate JRC universe) is not in a position to decide anything; respond to anything or even nod his head.

 

• We’ve proposed a 5 percent raise.

No response.

• We’ve submitted a schedule for merging the B-pay scale with the A-scale.

No response.

• We’re proposed a measly $2.50 weekly stipend for cell phone use.

No response.

• We, on the other hand, have reached agreement on roughly 18 of the 26-or-more proposals the company has made, rejecting some outright, such as giving up the ability to bargain over health care changes made to management’s health care and giving up jurisdiction over new work. No thanks.
• But hey, at least we responded. If only Tom Abbott could say the same.

 

So we’re done.

 

Having reached tentative agreements on no small number of contract issues the company wanted addressed – including solving several problems that do not exist – the negotiating committee Tuesday informed the company (through the mediator) that we will no longer schedule meetings until we can meet with someone who has the actual authority to bargain, not a JRC Bobblehead.

 

Because what we’ve been doing up to this point is not bargaining. (Maybe Digital First means bargaining last, who knows?)

 

We don’t care if it’s John Paton, lawyer Michael Rybicki, or Bozo the Clown. But if you want to settle a contract, you need both sides to have the authority to make a decision. And it has become painfully evident that currently, we are the only side capable of doing that.

 

It will give you some idea of what we have proposed and one of the things on which we await a response other than “I’ll have to get back to you.”

 

Bargaining Committee

• David Levengood, Unit Chairperson
• Gene Koch, Steve Gordon, Evan Brandt
• Bill Ross, Exec Director, Newspaper Guild

 

April 2011

                       Pottstown Unit Bargaining Update              April 2011

 

Hello fellow Guild members.  Forgive our tardiness in giving you an update, but there wasn’t too much to report. Here is the latest.

 

First of all, as many of you may realize, our contract with The Mercury expired on March 31. As in past negotiations, it has been extended one month by mutual agreement. All current provisions remain in effect.

 

Also, given the recent announcement about potential lay-offs, we had preliminary discussions on this subject on March 31 and Publisher Tom Abbott said he is not sure of the number that will be required, but believes there may already be enough volunteers to prevent unwilling lay-offs.

 

It remains an open question about whether those who stay will be qualified to fill the posts of those who have elected to leave.

 

As for contact talks themselves, the negotiating committee has met twice with Mr. Abbott. The first meeting was on March 9, the second on March 31.

 

At neither meeting did the company provide any proposal on major items such as economics or health care, choosing instead to focus on “cleaning up the language” in the contract, something Mr. Abbott has raised in previous negotiations.

 

In the spirit of cooperation, the Guild agree to several “clean-up” items, including removing side letters which were no longer relevant, a clause which was made redundant by subsequent language and language allowing the use of interns, primarily in the editorial department.

 

However much of the “language clean-up” has serious and financial implications and was not accepted.

 

As we made our way through the changes Mr. Abbott has proposed, the first portion focused primarily on the editorial department. That’s the department that JRC CEO John Paton has identified as being key to the company’s success; whose work should be rewarded; and, along with the advertising department, was key in helping The Mercury be named by Editor and Publisher as one of the 10 newspapers in the country which “does it right.”

 

Yes, you read that right: The entire country.

 

As part of our reward for that achievement, Mr. Abbott, for example, wants to eliminate the separate job classifications of copy editor, reporter and photographer into a single classification of “journalist.” Aside from the neatness of this change, it also eliminates a pay scale and Mr. Abbott said it was not his proposal to raise reporters and photographers up to the copy editor pay scale. Ah, the rewards of doing it right.

 

Other rewards being offered by Mr. Abbott include eliminating the provision which guarantees 26 weekends off per year for editorial and circulation guild members; although he acknowledged that the current language actually accomplishes the goal he said his proposal is intended to reach – “more flexibility.”

 

Flexibility is at the heart of another “reward” Mr. Abbott has proposed for editorial, eliminating the provision that no employee be required to work more than three of the company’s six official holidays unless that employee receives a holiday-plus one day for each above three.

 

When negotiators asked Mr. Abbott whether anyone at the company had done the math on this request, he replied they had not. Despite a paucity of highly paid financial experts on our extensive negotiating staff, we took a crack at it.

 

Consider: Editorial has four news reporters and three sports reporters. There are six paid holidays in the contract. If all reporters worked their three full holidays that would add up to 21 days of coverage for six holidays. How much more flexibility, we are left to wonder, does Mr. Abbott feel he needs?

 

Additionally, Mr. Abbott has proposed eliminating the biggest joke in the contract, one inserted in the first contract negotiated with JRC, that the company will “endeavor to maintain” 16 full-time newsroom positions, an endeavor the company failed to successfully achieve about nine minutes after that contract, which also gave us the two-tiered pay scale, was signed.

 

As a kicker, a final reward for fidelity and years of service is a proposal to remove the clause that gives five weeks of vacation to those who have been continuously employed for 20 years or more, no doubt in the name of increased flexibility.

 

Other items discussed included expense and mileage reimbursement for which Mr. Abbott had no concrete proposal. The Guild suggested monthly price checks, something Mr. Abbott said the company would take into consideration.

 

Also proposed, but not discussed, are changes to the sick-leave language which allow those employed before 1999 to re-charge their sick-leave accumulation if used on in a single calendar year.

 

And not to leave advertising out of the basket of rewards the company has proposed, although no specific proposal for the ad sales incentive plan has yet crossed the table, a list of proposed changes warns “the company will be proposing only annual adjustments.”

 

After about an hour of such discussions, the negotiating committee agreed to no changes and ended the session, seeing it as being devoted to non-essentials.

 

The next session is Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m. and Friday, April 15 at 9 a.m. in the company conference room.

 

We will “endeavor to maintain” better communications with you all and hope to be more successful than the company was in its endeavor.

 

Pottstown Negotiating Committee: 

Dave Levengood, Evan Brandt, Gene Koch, Steve Gordon

Bill Ross, Executive Director, Newspaper Guild

 

 

March 18, 2011

Congratulations to all our Journal Register members!!

The following email was sent earlier this week by JRC CEO John Patton to all JRC members who surpassed the company's profit sharing goal of $40 million set by JRC last year.  All Guild members received an additional weeks pay as the part of the profit sharing.

Folks,

Take a bow – you did it!

Our goal was to hit $40M in profit in 2010. Well you did better than that – you hit more than $41M. Not bad for a bankrupt, beat up old newspaper company people had written off as dead in 2009.

But we didn’t write ourselves off. We picked ourselves up and got working.

We learned to harness both cloud and crowd. Using new tools and working the new news ecology we produced new digital products and revenue streams AND reduced costs. We focused on what we do best and linked to the rest.

We learned how to put out out daily newspapers and websites using only free web tools. And the Ben Franklin Project was born. We established the ideaLab and you came up with more and better products.

We put about 1,000 Flip cams in your hands and we now produce about 4,000 minutes of original local news video per week. Stay tuned for more on that next quarter – think JRC TV.

You changed our culture and how we think. And we are a better Company for that.

AIl of that change is reflected in our bottom-line.

I promised you would all share in that profit, so look in your pay check tomorrow – you will all find an extra week’s pay. All, that is, except for our senior executives. They have a bonus plan and it’s enough already.

I promised and you delivered. And I cannot thank you enough for your effort this past year.

Together, with your help, we are transforming the Journal Register Company into a modern news media company. A transformation powered by its employees.

Until next time, John. 

 

November 18, 2009

Guild Members,

On November 17, 2009 The Newspaper Guild and The Delaware County Times have agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement for and additional 60 days, through January 25, 2010. Both sides have agreed to keep bargaining in good faith over the next 60 days, and all current terms of the contract remain in full force. If you have any questions, please call Bill Ross, Executive Director of the Guild.

In Solidarity,

Guild Bargaining Committee

Anthony Sanfilippo Unit Chairperson
Cindy Scharr Vice Chairperson
Rob Parent Secretary
Gil Spencer IV
Frank Leonetti
Suzanne Cavanaugh

 

Bill Ross
Executive Director
The Newspaper Guild/CWA of Greater Philadelphia Local 38010
1329 Buttonwood Street
Philadelphia, P.A. 19123

(215) 928-0118 office
(215) 928-9177 fax
(267) 240-8540 cell
bross@local-10.com

 

 

 

Ocober 30, 2009

TALKS GOING NOWHERE!

The Guild Bargaining Committee met with Daily Times publisher Frank Gothie Thursday afternoon in the second bargaining session – if one can call it that.

The last meeting between the two sides concluded with the guild asking the company to be more specific about their vague proposals that included a wage cut of undetermined proportions, a change in health care with the company having final say in the percentage breakdown on premium payments, and finally a proposed furlough (unpaid vacation) for up to two weeks.

The company returned to the table today without anything the Guild asked for.

Oh, they offered a few subtle changes to the proposal – namely that their proposal wouldn’t take effect until November 25th, rather than November 1st (no kidding, right?) and they added a few other words that changed the language of their proposals, but didn’t actually change the substance of it.

“I don’t know if I have anything more to give you because no one knows where the industry is headed,” Gothie said. “So, putting caps or limits on anything doesn’t make sense to us. I don’t think we can modify and restrict our position because we are in dire straights and have to be ready to turn on a dime. We’re seeing things we’ve never had to deal with. So, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we did it any other way.”

To which the guild told the company we wouldn’t be doing ours if we accepted their ridiculous proposals.

The one thing the company did do was provide the Guild with a comparative health care proposal between our current plan and the one the company has. The company’s plan would save singles and couples $22 and $32 a week respectively but would increase the costs for anyone with children as much as $47 a week. Oh, and the out of pocket expenses would double. These figures are also pre-premium increases that are expected (about 30%) come January 1.

This is also unacceptable.

The biggest problem the Guild had with the documentation provided by the company was the breakdown of what current members enrolled in the health plan are paying as part of the premium. While many members were under the impression that we were all paying 40 percent of our premium individually, Gothie told us that we only pay 40 percent collectively and that individuals are paying a varying percentage of their premium. What does that mean? Here, let’s spell it out:

Single folks (34 in all) are paying $71.93 a week, or 51 percent of your premium, not 40 percent.
The only folks actually paying 40 percent of their premium are parent/child (1 person) and husband/wife (9 in all).
The remaining 16 members who insure multiple children or families are paying slightly less than 40 percent.

The guild distinctly remembered bargaining an equal share into the contract. The company remembered otherwise. There is conflicting legalese written in our contract that supports both sides. (Gotta love lawyers who write in grey, not black and white).

After a lengthy caucus and a review of the entire insurance debacle with former Guild leader and negotiator Mary Lynn Wisniewski and long-time employee Frank Renzi, the Guild returned to the table with the company and expressed great displeasure in all of the proceedings – the confusion with the insurance, the lack of a response from the company to our request, and the continued crying poor by a company which still turns a profit at the Daily Times.

The only good to come out of the meeting was a verbal agreement by the company to plan on continuing to negotiate in good faith beyond November 25th if in fact bargaining were to extend beyond the date of the contract’s expiration.

However, the company showed no inclination on budging very far, if at all, beyond what they’ve already proposed.

“Unless there is an epiphany of revenue in the next few weeks, we have to be able to manage the expenses side of things quickly and in a viable manner,” Gothie said.

As far as the Guild is concerned, they’ll have to come up with another way, because this approach will never fly.

No new date was scheduled for negotiations, but both sides agreed to reconvene within the next two weeks.

In solidarity,

The Bargaining Team
Anthony Sanfilippo, Unit Chair, Editorial,
Cindy Scharr, Vice Chair, Editorial
Rob Parent, Sec/Treas, Editorial
Gil Spencer, At large, Editorial
Suzanne Cavanaugh, Advertising
Frank Leonetti, Circulation
Bill Ross, Newspaper Guild

 

 

October 13, 2009

 

First Negotiating Meeting

Newspaper Guild Local 10

Journal Register Co./Delaware County Daily Times

Oct. 13, 2009

 

Representing the Guild: Bill Ross, Executive Director, TNG-CWA 38010

Anthony SanFilippo, Unit Chairperson

Cindy Scharr, Unit Vice Chairperson

Rob Parent, Unit Secretary

Suzanne Cavanaugh

 

Representing JRC: Frank Gothie, Publisher, Daily Times

Diane Kennedy, administrative assistant

 

   The Guild opened the session by presenting a modest proposal calling for: 1. A 2-year contract; 2. A wage increase of $40 across the board for Year 1 and 3 percent across the board in Year 2; 3. An increase to The Company's health care cost contributions to 65 percent; 4. For shift differential on weekends to go from just Sunday to Saturday and Sunday.

   Mr. Gothie, on behalf of The Company, did not directly respond to the Guild proposals, instead prefacing The Company's own proposal with remarks about the state of the newspaper business, JRC's company-wide economic problems and a poor third-quarter financial performance of the Daily Times.

   This is a byproduct of the state of the economy in general and more than significant slumps in advertising revenue, he said.

   "We're looking at Quarter 4 as do or die," Gothie said. He then mentioned two price hikes in newsprint which, according to Mr. Gothie, will essentially raise the price of newsprint by 10 percent.

   "WE're proposing these things we propose because we have a severe problem on our hands," Gothie said, "and we have to do something about it."

   He characterized JRC as being in "survival mode" with its economic status.

   He then presented a "proposal" that essentially was a request to extend the current Guild contract for another year, but with open-ended stipulations that call for the possibility of salary cuts, health care premium increases to Guild members and furloughs that would amount to two weeks of lost pay for Guild members.

   The Company has tied these addendums to its request in with identical cost-cutting measures that would affect management workers ... though it didn't specify who or how many would be involved.

   In fact, all of the addendums weren't detailed, and the Guild Bargaining Committee is considering the package to be a non-starter of a "proposal."

 A copy of The Company's "proposal" is on the back of this report.

   We are calling on The Company to come back with a more detailed and logically structured contract proposal rather than what they have presented to this point. We have scheduled another session for Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. Any and all Guild members are welcome to the meeting in the Daily Times Building conference room.

 

Thank You,

Guild Bargaining Committee

 

October 10, 2009

Norristown Contract extended 60 days until December 10, 2009,

while JRC continues reorganization from Chapter 11.

 

September 11, 2009

Pottstown Contract extended 60 days until November 11, 2009,

while JRC continues reorganization from Chapter 11.

May 29, 2009

Dear Guild member,

We would like to update you on recent arbitrations and grievance activity at both Philadelphia Newspapers and in the Journal Register Company units.

Arbitrations:

Congratulations to Linda LaRose, an advertising artist who was unjustly suspended without pay in 2006 and later terminated for allegedly posting fliers mocking Philadelphia Newspapers CEO Brian Tierney in the Broad Street building. LaRose was fired without good and reasonable cause, ruled an arbitrator, and this month was awarded reinstatement and full back pay. If you see Linda, please welcome her back to work.

Frank Leonetti, a part-time mailer at the Delaware County Daily Times was recently awarded back pay and increased hours by an arbitrator. The Guild had grieved over Leonetti’s regular hours being reduced and given to a newer and lesser-paid employee.

The Guild is awaiting an arbitrator’s decision on the improper demotion and subsequent termination of Inquirer sports columnist Stephen A. Smith. Over two days this month, an arbitrator heard arguments in the case from the Guild and from PN. We anticipate a positive outcome and hope to welcome Stephen back to work soon.

Grievances:

The Guild has filed a grievance over the hiring of Paul Moore as an exempt editor in the Inquirer newsroom. Last year a Company official told the Guild that there were too many managers, not too few, at the Inquirer, which has lost more than 100 members through layoffs. Moore is replacing longtime Guild member Terry Bitman as assistant metro editor, a position that through established past practice is a Guild job. The Guild position is that Moore is welcome as a member but should not be an exempt manager.

The Guild has filed a grievance over a leave of absence request by Inquirer reporter Carlin Romano that was denied by PN. According to our contract, an unpaid leave is to be granted “if practicable.” The Company deemed Romano’s request, not practicable, despite having recently encouraged another Inquirer reporter to go on a similar leave.

We thank the Guild's Executive Board and Attorney Neal Goldstein for their success and continued determination to defend the rights of our members and preserve and protect our collective bargaining agreements.
In solidarity,

Dan Gross
President
TNG-CWA Local 38010
DGross@local-10.com

Bill Ross
Administrative Officer
TNG-CWA Local 38010
BRoss@local-10.com

 

February 23, 2009

Dear Guild Member,

As you all should be aware, Philadelphia Newspapers, ("PN"), the owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Daily News, and The Journal Register Company, ("JRC") owners of the Delaware County Times, The Pottstown Mercury, and the Norristown Times Herald, have filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.

As hard as it may sound, please stay calm. The companies are still in business, the papers are still publishing and you should still report for work.

Here is what this means to our members and how the filings affect our contracts:

The Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process is intended to permit a company to continue in operation by restructuring its contractual and financial obligations. Because Guild members provide essential services, your wages and benefits under our collective bargaining agreement for services rendered, after the petition was filed, will continue to be honored.

Before PN, or JRC can take any action to modify any of their obligations under our contracts they must negotiate in good faith with the Guild and prove that the contract changes they may seek are necessary to permit the reorganization and prevent the liquidation of the enterprises.

The Guild Executive Board has already taken steps to assure that we obtain all of the bankruptcy filings. We will monitor the proceedings and take appropriate action to enforce our collective bargaining agreements and protect your rights.

Even though a bankruptcy petition has been filed:

* Our contracts remain in full force;
* Your wages and benefits will continue to be paid;
* We retain the right to grieve and arbitrate contract disputes; and
* No unilateral changes to our contracts can be implemented without prior negotiations.

If the Employers request that we meet to negotiate contract modifications, we will, of course, immediately notify you of any such negotiations. As in all collective bargaining situations, we will bring any tentative agreements involving modifications/changes to our contracts to the members for ratification. In addition, we will keep you advised of all developments during the bankruptcy, especially any events that involve the Guild contracts, your rights, and the Employers obligations pursuant to it.

The Guild's Executive Committee will convene in an emergency board meeting at 10 a.m. Monday and will issue further news as we have it. In the meantime, members may contact the Guild office at 215-928-0118 or Administrative Officer Bill Ross at 267-240-8540 or e-mail bross@local-10.com.

In solidarity,

Dan Gross
President
TNG/CWA 38010
dgross@local-10.com