A note from executive officer Mike Buckso:
The membership of the Star Tribune unit has approved the package of contract concessions that were negotiated a week ago.
The next step is for the company to submit the concessionary agreement to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan for approval, a process expected to take at least a week. Most of the changes in the agreement will be effective upon court approval, though there are still some issues to be resolved.
The high vote turnout - 82 percent - shows how important of an issue this was to the membership. The unit leadership and the members of the bargaining committee thank you for your consideration and your sacrifice.
Graydon Royce Bankruptcy, Contract
If you were unable to make yesterday’s meeting, you can still vote today:
What: Vote on tenative deal.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Kathe Connair’s desk
Jenna Ross Contract
The Guild bargaining committee early this morning reached a tentative agreement with the company on concessions that would prevent a filing to terminate our contract in bankruptcy court.
We recognize these provisions are painful and distasteful. As a committee - and with counsel from our attorney - we believe that we would put members at greater exposure had we not reached an agreement and the company brought the matter to the court.
The principal elements of the tentative agreement are these:
- A 3 percent cut across the wage scales.
- A 30 percent cut across-the-board in overscale, with a portion to be redistributed at the discretion of management.
- A wage freeze that extends to the end of the current contract, July 31, 2011.
- A phase-out of night differential in three steps through the end of the contract.
- A freeze in Pension Plan G, after Aug. 1. This would allow for one more contribution to the cash-balance plan.
- A PTO plan that would include vacation, sick leave and holidays, at a maximum of 33 days per year, plus a bank of 240 hours to use to offset the short-term disability plan.
- A two-day furlough in each of the next two years.
- Expanded freelance.
- A limited right for management to depart from strict seniority and exempt a small number of employees from layoff.
- A reduction in severance to a cap of 30 weeks for the duration of the contract, and to 26 weeks thereafter.
There are other provisions in the agreement. In terms of dollar figures, the concession is approximately $1.68 million (excluding pension).
Full details will be released in the next few days. Bargaining took place around the clock and we cannot provide every detail until the tentative agreement is reviewed by The Newspaper Guild in Washington, D.C.
There will be a unit meeting next week, with a secret ballot.
Graydon Royce
David Chanen
Pat Doyle
Janet Moore
Paul Joppa
Ann Wilhelmy
Executive Officer Mike Bucsko
Jenna Ross Bankruptcy
Guild members:
Bargaining committee and the company have met each day this week. We have another meeting scheduled for Thursday, 9 a.m.
Graydon Royce, David Chanen, Pat Doyle, Paul Joppa, Janet Moore, Ann Wilhelmy
Graydon Royce Bankruptcy, Contract
To see more photos, including those Jackie Crosby took with her “old-fashioned” camera, visit our Flickr page: www.flickr.com/photos/savethestrib.
Thanks to everyone who helped us create hundreds of hats for the Twins opener! They were a hit.
Jenna Ross Save the Strib
Attention all of you who have Facebook friends and/or Twitter followers:
We are rolling out the new SaveTheStrib.com today. We can get a ton of free publicity for it through a simple act of concerted social-networking.
At precisely 12:30 p.m., everyone who has a Facebook and/or Twitter profile, display this status (in the box labeled “What’s on your mind?” or “What are you doing?”):
Check out the new website for people interested in the future of the Star Tribune. See stories, videos, links, updates and more. And it’s interactive, so add your own thoughts about the Strib’s future.
Or whatever you want. And then simply copy or type in the link to www.SaveTheStrib.com and hit “SHARE.”
(Twitter folks will need a shorter version. May we suggest using the first line, then the link.)
Remember to do this right at 12:30 p.m. today.
And check out our many sites: website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Jenna Ross Save the Strib
Guild members:The bargaining committee met Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We adjourned Sunday at 10:45 p.m., without an agreement.
We are scheduled to reconvene Monday at 11 a.m.
Bargaining committee
Graydon Royce
David Chanen
Pat Doyle
Janet Moore
Paul Joppa
Ann Wilhelmy
Jenna Ross Bankruptcy
Guild members:
The bargaining committee will begin negotiations with the company today. We expect the talks to last through the weekend.Thanks for your patience.
Graydon Royce
David Chanen
Pat Doyle
Janet Moore
Paul Joppa
Ann Wilhelmy
Graydon Royce Bankruptcy
When: 5:30 Wednesday
Where: Large conference room 2 on second floor
What: We’ll hope to have updates on bankruptcy and related issues, and also on our extremely cool mobilization effort. Pizza, pop and bottled water will be available.
Jenna Ross Meetings, Stewards
