Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010
Pat Gormley called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m, Sept. 15, 2010 at One News Plaza, second-floor meeting room.
Committee reports:
Grievances:
Vice President for Grievances Phil Fairbanks reported that there are two outstanding grievances, one in editorial involving jurisdiction; one potential grievance involved how management schedules district managers on holidays.
Finance:
James Heaney, chairman of the finance committee, reported that several duties have been handed off from the guild treasurer position to full-time service representative Tammy Turbull.
Most of the accounting work, maintenance of membership info and most day-to-day issues such as bill paying will be taken care of by the guild office.
Heaney said his initial proposed budget, originally expected to be presented for consideration this month, will take another month at least to prepare; Marian Needham, Turnbull and Heaney want to go through everything.
Turnbull suggested that the Guild look into using The Newspaper Guild’s database program, which is free of cost, to assist in tracking member information including CWA per captias.
Motion/Second/Carried Heaney/Tan to name Geoff Nason and Aaron Besecker to the finance committee.
LMC:
Heaney reported that the guild will ask management about The News’ minority hiring practices at the next Labor Management Committee meeting.
Mobilization
Sandy Tan outlined the finished pamphlet that mobilization members Renee Mickler and Denise Gee have helped put together for part-time members.
Tricia Clark reported on the mobilization committee’s desire to have a Holiday Party with potential sites in the Harbour Club, and Pearl St. Grill. The guild usually charges a small fee for tickets and would do so again. Esteemed band “Jeff Simon’s Desk” is slated to appear.
M/S/C Heaney/Tan to set aside $500 for funding the Christmas Party.
Update on health care bargaining:
Henry Davis reported that there were preliminary conversations with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that it was a possibility that the health care plan could be redone; also that Independent Health was to send a quote after sending an incorrect quote earlier. He expected that in the next week there would be plans from both groups.
Davis was hopeful of getting quotes that would enable the guild to negotiate a reduction in premium; he said it needed to be done by Nov. 1; he said that if the right deal came up that could happen.
Conferences
M/S/C Fairbanks/Tan to send at least two people to The Newspaper Guild Tri-Council Meeting (Nov. 5-7 at Chicago), the TNG Sector Conference (Feb. 2-6, 2011 at Orlando) and the 2011 CWA Convention.
Turnbull is attending the TNG organizing institute in Cleveland Dec. 3-4; all travel expenses paid by CWA.
Turnbull notified the committee of the CWA’s march on Washington on Oct. 2.
Motion to adjourn M/S/C 6:40 Gormley/Heaney.
M/S/C to adjourn at 6:40 p.m. Gormley/Heaney
Present: President Pat Gormley, Vice President/Mobilization Sandy Tan, Vice President/Grievances Phil Fairbanks, Secretary Keith McShea, Beverly Gniewecki (classified), Dick Fay (DMs), Felice McMillion (ABC), Carol Jones (ABC), Henry Davis (editorial), Jim Heaney (editorial), Sue Kelley (editorial), Brian Meyer (editorial), Geoff Nason (editorial), Aaron Besecker (editorial), Denise Gee (editorial), Tricia Clark, Kim Leiser (inside circulation) Tammy Turnbull.
Excused: Treasurer Bob Snyder.
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 