Dec. 14, 2011 — President Henry Davis called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m, Dec. 14, 2011, at One News Plaza, second-floor meeting room.
Davis introduced new editorial representatives Mike Harrington and Mark Sommer.
Motion/Second/Carried Fairbanks/Besecker to approve the minutes for September, October and November as published on the Guild website.
Committee reports
Phil Fairbanks on grievances:
M/S/C Leiser/Besecker to approve the agreement regarding vacations in the accounting department.
M/S/C Davis/Fairbanks to approve the grievance committee’s recommendation regarding the assignment of Marcy Lombardo in classified.
In classified, some Guild members have been disciplined for tardiness. Guild leaders will be meeting with The News regarding this issue.
In circulation, two district managers were brought back in at the wrong rate of pay; their pay is now correct but they need to be paid back pay. The Guild has authorized a grievance regarding this issue but it has not yet been filed.
Part-time district managers had an issue with not being paid for a sixth or seventh day of the week; this issue has been resolved and the members have been paid.
Point of information: Renee Mickler is now the full-time chief steward from classified, filling a position that had been shared by three different members.
Treasurer Kim Leiser is awaiting the Guild’s annual audit.
Sandy Tan on mobilization:
The Guild spent $6,700 on mobilization in payments to vendors, etc; she is interested how much will be reimbursed by the CWA.
Leiser submitted the first set of bills in early October and thought we would have seen something by Thanksgiving; that information should be coming soon.
Henry Davis spoke of sports reporter Allen Wilson’s passing.
M/S/C Harrington/McShea to donate $250 in Allen Wilson’s name to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
M/S/C Fairbanks/Tan that Tammy Turnbull receive an $800 contract signing bonus.
Old business
Tricia Clark reported on the holiday party. The party costs were “right on par with last year” at $1200. She specifically thanked Aaron Besecker for his organization of the band. It was noted that next year the Guild would try to book the traditional location in the Pearl Street Grill — the second floor — rather than Pearl Street’s new additional banquet facility. This year about 75 people attended; last year the number was about 100, but it was noted that the Guild had lost several members since that time.
New business
Davis said that Sandy Tan will replace Jim Heaney on the Labor-Management Committee. The meetings have had limited success, but the Guild is eager to keep the meetings in an attempt to work cooperatively with The News.
Davis said former News employee Dana Dee now sells longterm care insurance and is interested in making some sort of presentation to Guild members and perhaps mail members information. Davis will look into the issue and report back in January.
M/S/C Fairbanks/Leiser to approve two hospital dudctable payments to members.
Davis laid out some goals for the Guild in 2012:
* The Guild should continue to reach out to part-time members, which now comprise 40 percent of our membership.
Last winter the Guild held an outreach program to part-timers, and it was a successful program despite relatively low numbers. Davis said should replicate that this year. Davis said we need to continue to reach out to part-timers and let them understand that they are important part of the Guild and that we want them to be as involved as our full-timers.
* Another initiative is the long-term growing the Guild.
We can do things now as a real organization, and we need to continue to keep our membership strong if we want to continue that. We should try to develop relationships with other locals and put research into how we can recruit additional members to the Guild. It is something that will require a lot of work, but it is something that is extremely important. Davis discussed forming an organizing committee for what will be a challenging venture.
* The Guild’s major role is to serve its members — we want to set up a community service committee to do things, not necessarily charity-related, to contribute to the community. Gene Warner has been asked to chair the committee, which will solicit ideas from members from year to year and perhaps form long-term relationships with certain groups or areas of service.
M/S/C Fairbanks/Davis to adjourn at 6:34 p.m.
Attendance: President Henry Davis, Vice President/Grievances Phil Fairbanks, Vice President/Mobilization Sandy Tan, Treasurer Kim Leiser, Secretary Keith McShea, office manager Tammy Turnbull, inside circulation delegate Tricia Clark, editorial delegate/clerks chief steward Susan Kelley, district manager chief steward Dick Fay, editorial delegates Aaron Besecker, Denise Gee, Mark Sommer, Mike Harrington, Mike Pesarchick.
Excused: classified delegate Beverly Gniewecki.
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 