Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.

October minutes are complete but will wait until next month. Secretary Keith McShea owes November minutes as well.

The TNG President’s national election winner is Jon Schleuss, beating incumbent Bernie Lunzer; 51 voters voted from the Buffalo Guild, which is about a third of our members.

Nothing from the Grievance Committee.

New business.

The party was outstanding, President Sandy Tan reported. There was an improvement in the amount of noshows, Aaron Besecker did a “phenomenal job” as DJ, Typographical folks brung it big-time.

Tammy Turnbull and Dave Pickens had approached Guild to talk about how the prepress folks lost a person, leaving them below the minimum staffing count. The News interested to see if we willing to wait until negotiations (next month) to discuss this; they are hoping this would be part of agreement – it will be a big issue in negotiations for Typographical unit.

The vacancy happened just this week, Tan said. There is an informal meeting with The News next week to discuss this further.

Motion/Second/Carried Hipp/Robinson to extend the time to fulfill the minimum staffing count situation by two months, with the expectation that there will be an agreement and resolution to the Neil Mahar situation also by Feb. 10.

McShea and the committee discussed the freelance situation and possible language that might be used in a possible social media campaign, if the Guild chose to pursue one.

Tan adjourned the meeting at 5:46 p.m..

Attendance: President Sandy Tan, Vice President/Grievances Aaron Besecker, Vice President/Mobilization Rachel Lenzi, Secretary Keith McShea, Typographical dayside steward Karen Hipp, Typographical delegate Kathy Mooney, editorial delegate David Robinson, editorial delegate Mark Sommer, nightside chief steward Mike Pesarchick, Sun papers steward Lian Bunny, editorial alternate delegate Scott Scanlon.
Excused: Treasurer and inside circulation delegate Diana Gawron, Administrative Officer Kim Leiser, ABC chief steward Felice McMillion, editorial delegate Mike Harrington,  past president Phil Fairbanks.

Absent: District manager steward Joan Portman, Typographical Nightside steward Mark Hanover, district manager co-stewards Matt Fuery and Mike Tatko, editorial alternate delegate Jeff Miers, district manager alternate delegate Bob Snyder.