Guild executive committee minutes // Tuesday, February 16, 2016

President Henry Davis called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m, Feb. 16, 2016 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.

Treasurer Kim Leiser presented the budget.

It included revised numbers to answer questions from the previous year.

The budget was approved unanimously.

Aaron Besecker presented the grievance report.

— There have been some retail/classified issues and a meeting is scheduled with management.

Renee Mikler reported that the guild classified representatives met with management; management came to the table with a modest agenda and “we tackled most of the points on agenda, we were able to work with them.” Overall she called it a “fruitful” meeting, that efficiency will improve and that it was an overall success.

Aaron noted that the classified meeting was a vehicle that was created as part of bargaining – the committee/meeting was the end result, in lieu of outsourcing classified during last negotiations.

— In editorial, a request was put out for guest columnists from the business world; something that is in the very formative stages.

— A potential discipline case in newsroom involves an employee who made a political donation. Ethics policy doesn’t claify political donations. “It’s murky to people in our newsroom” said Henry Davis. There is a Code of Ethics, but it was unclear whether it covered political donations.

Henry discussed mobilization; Colin Dabkowski is out of town.

— Mobilization is working on the membership email list, making sure it is updated.

— Work is being done for the next Frontier Reporter.

— Mobilization is preparing a survey ahead of bargaining.

— There are some minor changes being made to the web site, including the posting of the Guild’s bylaws.

Henry reported that the search committee for the Guild’s replacement for Tammy Turnbull as a full-time service representative met for the first time.

The plan is to draft a job posting and have it sent to committee members; the Guild will be posting the job internally. The search committee is hopeful of getting it done ASAP.

In new business, Davis announced that the Guild bargaining team would consist of Kim Leiser, Felice McMillion, Dave Robinson, Jay Tokasz, Tammy Turnbull and possibly one more guild member. “We’re naming it now because we need to move forward,” Davis said.

Davis said the next executive committee meeting will be Tuesday, March 15 with a general meeting following on Wednesday. March 16.

Motion/Second/Carried Besecker/Leiser to adjourn at 5:29 p.m.

Attendance: President Henry Davis, Vice President/Grievances Aaron Besecker, Treasurer Kim Leiser, Secretary Keith McShea, office manager Tammy Turnbull, ABC chief steward Felice McMillion, classified delegates Beverly Gniewecki, classified delegate/chief steward Renee Mikler, editorial delegates Mark Sommer, Denise Gee and David Robinson, editorial chief steward Dan Kirchberger.

Excused: Vice President/Mobilization Colin Dabkowski, editorial delegate Mike Harrington, editorial delegate/clerks chief Susan Kelley.

Absent: Past president Pat Gormley, district manager delegate Bob Snyder, district manager chief steward Dick Fay, editorial delegates Phil Fairbanks and Trey Bankhead, nightside chief steward Mike Pesarchick, alternate district manager delegate Brian Long, alternate editorial delegate Sandy Tan.