With the early retirement incentive behind us, The Buffalo News is a smaller organization, and so is the Guild. That poses unique challenges for each of as members who are faced with the prospect of doing the same work with fewer people. How will we manage? And how are other newspapers managing? Come share your … Continue reading Looking ahead — Membership meeting 5:30 pm Wednesday

News management exceeded its buyout goals this week through the early retirement incentive that expired Monday. In all, 27 Guild employees will be off the payroll by the end of the week. Their wages and benefits represent a savings to The News of $1.7 million, substantially higher than its goal of $1.1 million. The early … Continue reading Company exceeds $1.1 million savings goal through early retirements

The Buffalo News is not likely to offer part-time jobs to newsroom employees who take a buyout. Company executives, during a recent meeting with union leaders, said the current state of the newspaper's finances make it difficult for them to bring back Editorial Guild members who retire. Managers said no future newsroom retiree has been … Continue reading News unlikely to bring back retirees as part timers

The Buffalo News’ current buy-out offer is raising a number of questions among Guild members. Chief among them is how many members in each department will be allowed to take the offer and whether that number will increase because of higher-than-anticipated interest in the pension enhancement. The short answer to that question is easy. It’s … Continue reading The News will decide how many members can take the buyout.

The Guild has contracted with the financial consulting firm headed by Richard Schroeder to advise members considering the buyout offer. Richard is a former Guild president who manages the local’s investments. His firm’s expertise includes retirement planning and, in addition to helping members evaluate the buyout offer, Richard and his staff can provide general advice … Continue reading What you need to know before deciding whether to accept The News’ buyout offer

Guild retains retirement planner to help members make an informed decision After several weeks of talks with the Guild, News management has settled on a buyout package that will seek the voluntary retirement of 23 employees by offering improved pension benefits. Union and company leaders concluded discussions Friday that resulted in a package that is … Continue reading Company finalizes buyout offer

Back pay checks totaling nearly $6,000 went out this week to 12 Guild members in Classified Advertising. The checks are part of a recent settlement between the Guild and The News that allows for the transfer of work within the Guild-represented department. The agreement insures that Classified sales representatives will receive credit for an extra … Continue reading Settlement awards $6,000 to Guild members

Buffalo News management has informed the Guild that it intends to offer buyouts to Guild-represented employees. News management, in a meeting with Guild leaders Tuesday, shared a conceptual buyout offer that is similar to what was offered a year ago, which involved cash payments that start at $60,000 and scale upwards, depending on length of … Continue reading Company readying buyout offer to Guild members in effort to save $1.1 million

More info at membership meeting 5:30 pm Wednesday Buffalo News management informed Guild leaders on Friday that it wants to negotiate further concessions from the Guild to cut expenses in the face of a continuing decline in profitability. The issue will be discussed at the Buffalo Newspaper Guild’s quarterly membership meeting at 5:30 pm Wednesday … Continue reading News seeking more concessions