December Arbitrations Update

Pay for new photo imager position

The Guild is looking into the slotting of the wage scale for the new photo imager position.

ORGINAL UPDATE: The company and Guild met many times to discuss this issue. The company rejected the Guild’s offer in this matter. The Guild offered to toll the matter. The company refused, so the grievance committee moved the matter to arbitration.

CURRENT UPDATE: The Guild and company have exchanged three names of arbitrators on this matter. Both sides of rejected the others selections and the matter has been pushed to AAA for arbitrator selection.

Implementation of time clocks in South Portland

The Guild has grieved the implementation of time clocks in South Portland. This is a change in working conditions.

UPDATE: The company waived the grievance meeting on this matter. The issue has been moved to arbitration and both sides submitted three names of arbitrators. Both sides rejected the others’ three names, so the matter is being pushed to AAA for arbitrator assignment.

Making sure work from laid off positions isn’t being done by exempt employees.

LAST UPDATE: We have an arbitration date for June 29, 2007.

Free riders

We have filed a grievance related to the company’s refusal to abide by Article I, Section I of the contract in regard to employees failing to meet their minimum legal financial requirements to the Guild.

LAST UPDATE: The company and Guild have exchanged three names of arbitrators on this matter and are attempting to decide on an arbitrator.

CURRENT UPDATE: The company and Guild have rejected each other’s selections. The issue has been moved to AAA for arbitrator selection.

A non-elimination of a position

We have filed a grievance related to a regular part-time position that has been eliminated without a layoff.

LAST UPDATE: We have an arbitration date of February 5, 2007.

News assistants/clerks

The Guild raised an issue with the company about the work news assistants and clerks were doing and the pay they were receiving for that work. Since then, the company has unilaterally changed the assistants and clerks job descriptions.

LAST UPDATE: The Guild and company have reached a tentative agreement for back pay on this issue. We are waiting for a letter from the company to finalize the agreement.

CURRENT UPDATE: This settlement has been finalized and the checks issued.