StribGuild

Colleagues,It’s been a few weeks since we’ve communicated, and we have a couple of updates.

First, Happy New Year! We know that holiday scheduling has been a challenge for many corners of the room, particularly for the copy desk, designers and nightsiders. Thank you for the work that you do. If you worked overtime, file for it. That goes for everyone.

In other news, we are beginning and continuing several committees to help make our workplace better. Get involved!

The MOBILIZING COMMITTEE is Jackie Crosby’s baby. This committee will meet regularly to discuss ways to mobilize. We must begin mobilizing NOW to prepare for 2013 negotiations. Activities may range from sprucing up the Guild bulletin board to helping plan rallies on behalf of your colleagues. If interested, contact Jackie.

The TRAINING COMMITTEE has been dormant in recent months due to the departures of Myron Medcalf and Emma Carew-Grovum. This committee has done some great work in the past, and we need a new person to head it. If you’re interested, please contact Janet or David.

The DIVERSITY COMMITTEE has been a great success, as well. If you’re interested in serving, please contact Tom Horgen.

We have an update on indoor bike storage. Although this is not a contractual issue, we asked the company to explore this on behalf of the many bikers in our unit (and throughout the Star Tribune). We were told that indoor bike storage is not an option because of cost and security concerns. However, the company did say that it will improve the outdoor bike cage in the A-lot, probably this spring. In the meantime, there are bike lockers in the Haff parking garage, kitty-corner to the bike cage. It’s about $50 a year to rent a locker. If you’re interested in renting a locker, the Guild will advocate on your behalf to have the fee reimbursed by the company.

We’d also like to welcome two new officers: Vince Tuss and Tom Horgen, who graciously stepped up to serve on our leadership team. Your remaining Guild officers deserve a tip of the cap, as well: Kathe Connair, Pam Miller and Jackie Crosby, as well as our local’s executive officer, Mike Bucsko.

We’d like to thank the CHEER committee, run quietly and efficiently by Kevin Duchschere and Randy Furst.

We’d also like to salute GRAYDON ROYCE, who is stepping down from Guild leadership at the Strib, although he’s still the president of our Local. Graydon has seen this unit through unprecedented times — financial woes, bankruptcy, and other assorted turmoil. He’s done so with a steady hand and a sharp mind. Thank you, Graydon.

A final note: Our colleagues at the Pioneer Press begin contract negotiations tomorrow. We all know how difficult negotiations can be, and David and I have sent a letter to Pioneer Press Guild co-chairs Mara Gottfried and Gayle Grundtner expressing our support.

We may compete fiercely in the marketplace, but we share many common issues in the workplace. The letter can be found at a post below

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-Chairs
Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Contract

Guild colleagues,It’s a new year, and we’re hoping to sign up (and in many cases, re-sign-up) good stewards to be the eyes and ears of our Guild unit.

I’ve put a signup sheet on the Guild bulletin board, across from the library, in hopes many of the terrific stewards we’ve had in the past year will sign up, and to see some new names, too. We especially would like to see 3-4 people from the sports ranks join us.

Once we see who’s volunteering, we’ll start working the room to make sure we have a fully representative list of stewards.

If you have questions about stewards’ duties, feel free to ask me or any officer.

It’s actually a pretty fun gig - we meet about ever 6 weeks or so, chow down a bit, talk about what’s going on in the unit, ponder problems and share ideas.

Each steward is assigned a group of people in the area where they work and are asked to be a first responder in case of problems or questions, with the officers always providing backup.

Please consider it! It’s going to be a pivotal year for the Guild as we again go into negotiations at year’s end, and we need the best hearts and minds in the newsroom to help guide the officers and negotiators.

Thanks,
Pam Miller
Chief steward

Janet Moore Contract

425 Portland Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
Jan. 2, 2012

Co-Chairs, Newspaper Guild
St. Paul Pioneer Press
345 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN 55101

Dear Mara and Gayle,

Your Guild brethren at the Star Tribune wish you the best of luck as you begin negotiations with management of the Pioneer Press on Tuesday.

We face challenging circumstances in our industry, and we have all sacrificed greatly to ensure that our respective institutions survive.

While we may compete aggressively in the marketplace, please know Guild members at the Star Tribune support a strong collective voice in the workplace.

To that end, if there is anything we can do to help you in your efforts to negotiate a strong contract, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

In solidarity,

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-Chairs
Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

 
cc/Graydon Royce, president, Minnesota Newspaper Guild
Mike Bucsko, executive officer, Minnesota Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Contract

Here’s a note from our Local’s Administrative Officer, Mike Bucsko.

Today marks the fifth month that union employees at American Crystal Sugar have been locked out.

The 1,300 employees, represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), arrived Aug. 1 at Sugar Factories along the Red River Valley to find themselves locked out of their workplaces, while management hired replacement workers. And just yesterday it was revealed that American Crystal Sugar President and CEO Dave Berg likened the union contract and the workers to a cancerous tumor, further exacerbating the strained relationship between the workers and the company.

With the holiday season fast approaching, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Regional Labor Federations are participating in a toy drive to help the children of the locked out American Crystal Sugar Workers.

You can help in this worthy and charitable effort. Starting today until Dec. 14, donations in toys or checks can be given to one of your Star Tribune Unit Co-Chairs - David Chanen and Janet Moore. Checks should be made payable to the St. Paul Regional Labor Studies and Resource Center with “Operation: Christmas Solidarity” in the memo line.

Thanks for your consideration of this important endeavor.

Jenna Ross Bankruptcy

Colleagues,

Read on:

http://www.postguild.org/2011/11/21/post-quietly-trying-or-has-pushed-out-employees/

Sound familiar?

Janet Moore Buyouts

Today’s installment: You’re called in on your day off. Are you paid for it?

Here’s what the contract states: Article VI 1 (f): “When an employee is called to work on his regular day or days off, he shall receive, as a minimum, pay in an amount equal to eight hours of straight time.”

Translation: You’re paid for eight hours, whether you work the full eight or just two or three.

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-Chairs
Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Contract

Colleagues,

At a Guild unit meeting Thursday, a new leadership slate was nominated and named. There was no opposition. An election will not be necessary.

Your new Guild leaders will serve two-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2012. They are:

Co-Chairs: Janet Moore and David Chanen

Vice-Chairs: Jackie Crosby (Mobilization), Tom Horgen (Diversity) and Kathe Connair and Vince Tuss (at-Large).

Chief of Stewards: Pam Miller

We are grateful for your support. Together, we can achieve a better workplace.

Janet Moore
Co-Chair
Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Officers

This week’s installment: JOB REVIEWS.Management recently announced a new rating system for Job Reviews that has prompted many questions in the Newsroom. One of them is: Do I have any right to rebut my job review if it’s inaccurate, unfair or misleading in some way?

The answer is: Yes. You can write a letter of rebuttal and request that it be placed in your permanent employment file.

Another question: If I get a “Needs Improvement” rating may I have a Guild rep attend my job review?

Generally, you have the right to Guild representation if you are placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), which isn’t always synonymous with a “Needs Improvement” rating.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

There is a Diversity Dialogue this WEDNESDAY, at 12:30 p.m. in Large 2, second floor. The topic is the 150th anniversary of the U.S.-Dakota war, with special speakers from the community. (Thanks to the Guild’s Diversity Committee for setting this up.)

There is a Stewards’ Meeting this THURSDAY at 3 p.m. in Large 3-Second Floor. Everyone is invited.

There is a Membership Meeting of our Local, the Minnesota Newspaper Guild, at 6:30 Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the AFL-CIO headquarters in St. Paul. Meet the other peeps in your union, including those from the Pioneer Press and interpreters from HCMC. We’ll be discussing CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. What really goes on? How can we work together to get better contracts?

There is a UNIT MEETING 3 p.m. Thursday, room to be announced. Nominations will be taken for Guild officers, including one (or two) vice chairs, a chief of stewards, and four vice-chairs. More information is on www.stribguild.com.

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-Chairs
Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Meetings

Diversity Dialogue: Dakota
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room 2 (second floor)Next year marks the 150th anniversary of the U.S- Dakota War, which ended with the largest mass execution in U.S. history when 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato. Join the Guild’s Diversity Committee for an engaging conversation with leaders from the region’s Dakota community. Guests include Jim Anderson, chairman of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community; Santee Sioux Nation spokesman Melvin Brown and his daughter Sasha Houston Brown, who recently took on Urban Outfitters for its Navajo clothing line.

Everyone is invited!

Janet Moore Meetings

Do you want to make your workplace better? Are you interested in working with your colleagues to do so?

Run for Guild office!

We’ll be taking nominations for officers at a unit meeting 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. The terms last two years beginning Jan. 1, 2012 - that includes the period when we’ll be involved in contract negotiations.

Here are the leadership positions:

Co-Chairs (2 slots)

Vice Chairs (4 slots)

Chief of Stewards (1 position)

An election will be held later this year if there are contested positions.

If you have questions about what it’s like being a Guild leader, feel free to talk to us.

Meanwhile, if you want to get involved in another way, become a steward. Talk to Pam Miller. You can also serve on our Diversity, Mobilization and Training committees. Talk to a current officer if you’re interested.

Janet Moore/David Chanen
Co-Chairs

Pam Miller
Kathe Connair
Jackie Crosby
Graydon Royce
Vice Chairs

Janet Moore Officers