Guild adds activists and looks for more

The Guild recently added three new members to its governing body, but finds itself looking for one more.

The latest vacancy on the Guild Executive Committee was created when Dick Fay resigned last month as vice president of contract administration, one of five top leadership positions in the union.

The Guild will accept nominations for the vice presidency, as well as two chief steward positions in Editorial, at the general membership meeting in August. The union’s Executive Committee is expected to appoint a temporary replacement when it meets later this month.

Fay, a veteran of several bargaining teams and a long-time activist, was one of several district managers who took the latest early retirement incentive from The Buffalo News. He returned to the News as a part-time district manager but elected to resign his post as vice president of the Guild. He will continue to serve as the union’s chief steward in Circulation.

The latest round of buyouts also resulted in Tom Buckham, one of the newsroom’s three chief stewards, leaving the paper.

Carolyn Raeke, another chief steward in Editorial, also retired a short time later, leaving open a second chief steward position in the newsroom.

The two chief steward positions remain vacant at this point but Raeke’s and Buckham’s spots on the Executive Committee were filled by Denise Jewell Gee and Geoff Nason, both of Editorial.

Nason and Gee were nominated at the June Executive Committee meeting and elected without opposition.

A third opening on the Executive Committee, this one representing district managers was filled by Brian Long, who also was elected without opposition.

People interested in the chief steward positions in Editorial can contact Guild Vice President Sandra Tan or Executive Committee Member Phil Fairbanks for more information about the position.

Chief stewards are the union’s eyes and ears in the workplace and often serve as a member’s initial representative when they have a problem, concern or question. They are also responsible for signing up new members.