Flummoxed over flexibility
Dear Guild members: As we take a bargaining pause until Wednesday, we wanted to use this opportunity to attempt to illuminate that which, by its nature, is a very shrouded process. Negotiating a contract is a matter involving so few, yet it impacts so many. And for those of you who are […]
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A grim turn.
Guild members, After 14 bargaining sessions, the company withdrew its entire proposed package today when the Guild bargaining committee refused to entertain any weakening of seniority in the layoff process. The company says it is considering our economic proposals for Philly.com, which has a separate contract. They are not considering improvedPhilly.com contract work rules, such as adequate […]
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Company stance could result in biggest pay cut ever.
At our first bargaining session today, the day after owner Gerry Lenfest spoke withUSA Today about his determination to “save” our company (http://usat.ly/1uGlJ03), company negotiators said “It’s not economically feasible to talk about pay raises or contributions to health and welfare.” The company has not raised its contribution to the Guild’s Health & Welfare Fund in 14 […]
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IGM to offer new round of buyouts.
In our pre-bargaining kick-off meeting with owner Gerry Lenfest and senior management, Mr. Lenfest said, “negotiations with the Guild are critical for sustainability at the company.” Mr. Lenfest then announced that tomorrowmorning the company will offer a buyout to newsroom employees with 25 or more years of service and non-newsroom Guild employees with 35 years […]
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2015 Guild Officer nominations, and free movie tickets
Dear Guild Member, we have three announcements: 1) At last night’s Rep/Assembly-Gen Membership meeting, the following slate was nominated for the 2015 Inquirer/Daily News/Philly.com Guild Executive Board. Howard Gensler – President Dan Rodgers – Secretary Eric Churn – Treasurer Cindy Burton – Vice President Melanie Burney – Vice President Maggie O’Brien – Vice President […]
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work hard, rest easy.
Members of the Newspaper Guild Executive Board had a productive meeting with new owner Gerry Lenfest this afternoon. Lenfest hopes to have a new publisher in place within three months, he is committed to continuing two print publications and he is considering keeping philly.com as its own entity with its own identity. Lenfest also […]
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Katz Lenfest win auction of IGM with $88 million bid
Subject: GUILD BULLETIN: Lewis Katz and Gerry Lenfest win auction for IGM at $88 million The judge-ordered auction for Interstate General Media took place this morning at the offices of Dechert LLP in the Cira Center. After about 90 minutes of bidding, the winners were Lewis Katz and Gerry Lenfest at $88 million. That’s $11 […]
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If the floor is 77 million, someone else can overpay
In Delaware Chancery Court today the Guild told Judge Donald Parsons that we will not be bidders for Interstate General Media if the auction floor remains $77 million, the amount proposed by owner George Norcross and agreed to by owner Lewis Katz, even though their own experts testified that the company wasn’t worth that. […]
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Delaware Court rules Guild has right to intervene
Delaware Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Donald F. Parsons, Jr., ruled yesterday that the Newspaper Guild has a right to intervene in the ownership battle over Interstate General Media. The arguments of General American against the Guild’s petition to intervene were all shot down by Judge Parsons in a 12-page ruling. In solidarity, Howard Gensler, […]
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Newspaper Guild files petition to intervene.
NEWSPAPER GUILD FILES PETITION TO INTERVENE Following a tumultuous 2013 which saw the rival ownership groups of Interstate General Media wage a public legal battle for control of the company, culminating in decision-making gridlock, a corporate deadlock and opposing suits filed in different jurisdictions to dissolve the company and put it up for auction, […]
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