The two papers are the Canton (Ohio) Repository (Northeast Ohio TNG Local 1) and the Peoria Journal Star, which is part of our local, the United Media Guild, Local 36047. The following is a bargaining bulletin issued minutes ago by Local 1 in Ohio and it contains specifics from both bargaining sessions.
Guild Bargaining Bulletin
January 17, 2012
The Guild and the Employer held their eighth bargaining session today (Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012). Let’s just cut to the highlights.
The Employer “modified” its outsourcing proposal by singling out the job titles it wants the ability to get rid of:
• Graphic Designers
• Single Copy Persons
• District Delivery Persons
• Collectors
• Down Routers and Bundle Counters
• Advertising Pagination
• Advertising Artist
• Mechanic
• Traffic Department (drivers)
• Dispatcher
• Maintenance
• Mechanic Assistant
The Employer said this was a less severe proposal than its initial proposal made Aug. 9, 2011, in which it wanted the ability to outsource ANY job at its discretion. The job titles listed above would amount to almost one-fourth of the Guild bargaining unit members The Guild
believes it is in the best interests of the employees as well as the newspaper for bargaining unit employees to perform the work required to produce The Repository. The Employer’s proposal today indicates it is serious about getting ride of our jobs.
Meanwhile, at the GateHouse paper in Peoria, Ill., The Employer has announced it plans to outsource 36 Guild circulation jobs by June 1. The Employer also said it plans to outsource Guild copy desk and page designer jobs. The Guild contract in Peoria, which currently covers 72 employees, does not have the same job protection language as our contract – and that language is what the Employer wants to change.
Guild Bargaining Committee
REMINDER: A Guild unit meeting to update members on bargaining is 6 p.m. Thursday at the YWCA