March Grievance Update

The following grievances have been filed with the company. At this point, the company and Guild will meet to try to resolve these issues. If no resolution is agreed to the grievance returns back to our grievance committee where we can vote to send the issue to arbitration.

Seniority

A grievance was filed in relation to the company refusing to transfer a member from the night shift to the day shift based on seniority. A reassignment agreement has been worked out in this matter, transferring the member to the day shift.

Circulations use of outside contractors to do circulation helper work

A grievance has been filed in relation to several instances of the company using outside contractors to do circulation helper work by handing out papers at various events. The Guild and company were approaching a resolution to this agreement but talks fell apart.

UPDATE: The company has asked to toll this matter while looking for a solution.

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.

UPDATE: We are still waiting for the company’s response.

Online managers doing Guild work

We have filed a grievance relating to a manager producing slide shows for online, and management’s belief that online managers can spend 25 percent of their workweek doing Guild work.

UPDATE: This was discussed in the new media committee meeting. An agreement was made and the Guild will be writing a letter memorializing the understanding of very limited times that managers can perform Guild work consistent with our contract.

Change in commission plan

We have filed a grievance over the change in commission plans in advertising in relation to special sections.

UPDATE: The company has refused to toll this issue. We are looking into our options on this issue. We do understand the company is rolling out new incentives.

The Community Leader

We have filed a grievance based on the recent movement of work and changes made to the Community Leader based primarily on the jurisdiction language in our contract. Some community leader work (employees) has been moved inside 390 Congress, some Guild members are now doing Community Leader work, the Community Leader is now being inserted into the Press Herald, and we’re sharing management.

UPDATE: We have tolled (legal term that sets aside timelines) this issue while the company decides if it wants to negotiate this matter with our lawyer. We are still waiting for a response.