Draft March 2012 Executive Committee Minutes

Phil Fairbanks reported on grievances.

There are a number in classified — the grievance committee has authorized four separate grievances:

1) a member at home without schedule; 2) two members were disciplined for tardiness which we believe was excessive; 3) issues regarding a member having been able to combined her break and lunch hour but now not allowed to; 4) a jurisdiction violation in customer service.

Sandy Tan reported on mobilization.

The Guild hosted a part-timer lunch workshop; 22 people came, which was good based on last year’s total; but there is room for improvement since we have more than 80 part-time members. “We’re going to continue to improve on this.”

Henry Davis: “Thanks to everyone who participated. I looked at it as success with quite few more people in attendance than last time. It’s an outreach to these folks, who have a very tenuous connection with the Guild. I liked the way the program went. They asked questions, many milled about afterwards and talked with us. It was a good opportunity for them to meet us, learn about The Guild and relay to us their concerns and questions.”

Tan presented the results of a survey given to part-timers at the meeting.

Tan: “We got newer folks, we got good responses about getting involved, and we were gratified to know that people who did come learned something they didn’t know before.”

Tan is scheduled to meet with Dan Farberman tomorrow to get the Labor-Management Committee restarted.

Old business

Motion/Second/Carried Fairbanks/Tan that Davis, Tammy Turnbull and Kim Leiser attend the multi-council Newspaper Guild meeting from April 20 to 22 in Cleveland with rooms booked at $89.

Davis mentioned the leadership skills conference the Guild would host here in Buffalo in the early summer or fall. It will include Guild representatives from papers throughout the Great Lakes and Southern Ontario.

Turnbull said the Guild is putting it together as part of an initiative that came out of the Great Lakes meeting in the fall for guilds to make an effort to work together regionally. “We’re working together and pooling resources, people-wise and money-wise,” said Turnbull. Noted leadership expert Barbara Saxburg out of TNG Canada is expected to attend for the 2-1/2 day program on creative leadership.

In speaking to other Great Lakes representatives in Baltimore two weeks ago, Turnbull reported that all liked the idea and are trying to get people in. The Guild is hoping to get the CWA to defray some costs of training. The location will either be downtown or possibly in East Aurora, which has provided very competitive rates. There should be more details at the next meeting. The event can take up to 25 to 30 people. Executive committee members can attend.

“We’re trying to help prepare the new cadre of leaders in the Guild,” said Davis. “The more knowledgeable and skilled our guild gets, is only going to make us more effective.”

Friday, June 22 to June 24 has been targeted. Saxburg’s speaking fee for the whole program is $2,000. We’ve asked TNG and the Great Lakes District Council for funding.

The community service committee’s first event is to work with the nonprofit Buffalo Riverkeeper organization which has been around for years. It is dedicated to protecting Buffalo’s Waterways through policies and funding. Twice a year they have shore cleanups. An event is tentatively scheduled at LaSalle Park on April 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. Lunch will be included and there will be door prizes. The clean-up day is a national event. There will be a newsletter coming out about this event as well as other things the committee is working on. The event is open to children.

Some executive members will be in Cleveland during the event.

New business.

The Guild has been paying a fee to CWA of 10 cents per retired member of the Buffalo Newspaper Guild on a per-month basis, totaling $40 per month.

M/S/C Leiser/Tan to end paying per capitas for retirees to CWA.

M/S/C Gniewecki /Fairbanks to donate a $250 memorial to member Pat Toepfer, whose mother recently died and who also has been very ill herself.

M/S/C Davis/Fairbanks to adjourn at 6:06 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, nightside chief steward Mike Pesarchick, ABC chief steward Felice McMillion, classified delegate Beverly Gniewecki, editorial delegates Aaron Besecker, Mike Harrington.and Mark Sommer.

Excused: district manager chief steward Dick Fay, editorial delegate Denise Gee, classified chief stewart Renee Mikler, district manager delegate Bob Snyder.