StribGuild

Here’s an interesting  link:  http://www.pressherald.com/news/MaineToday-Media-announces-new-capitalization.html

The story details the wild ride that members of the Portland, Maine, Guild have endured in recent years, with a promising ending.

There are a couple of interesting tidbits. First, the Strib’s former publisher is a key player in this drama. Second, the Guild took an activist role in their own members’ fate. As a result, the Guild has a seat on the new company’s board.

Janet Moore/Co-Chair/Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Janet Moore Contract

A note from your Guild Leaders:

It’s May Day, the International Workers’ Day, which commemorates the historic struggle of working people.

The holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with the fight for an eight-hour work day.

Remember those?

Our contract has overtime language. It’s your right to file for CASH overtime after you work 40 hours in a week. So file for it. If you need an advocate, or get push-back from Management, we’re here.

Janet Moore/David Chanen

Co-Chairs

Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

Kathe Connair

Jackie Crosby

Pam Miller

Tom Horgen

Vince Tuss

Janet Moore Contract

The Minnesota AFL-CIO offers five $1,000 scholarships for union members and their dependents. The scholarships are intended for high school seniors graduating in 2012.You must be a union member of dependent of a union member whose local union is affiliated with the Minnesota AFL-CIO. (Our union, the Minnesota Newspaper Guild, is an affiliate.)

You must have a straight B average or better.

And you must attend a post-secondary institution located within the state of Minnesota.

For more information and an application, go to www.mnaflcio.org or call Candace Lund, AFL-CIO Organizing Director at 651-227-7647. (Candace is a Guild member, too.)

The deadline is April 30

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

Janet Moore Officers

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