9.27.11 – Any hopes that the Guild could collaborate with The News to help control expenses and increase revenues were dashed Monday. News management responded to the Guild’s major contract proposals with an unacceptable counterproposal that is all about financial pain and no gain. Among other things, it opens the door to employees paying much, … Continue reading Company proposal unacceptable

More work still needed in other major areas; informational meeting Thursday. 9.19.2011 -- After a two-week break from bargaining, contract negotiations resumed Wednesday with The News and The Guild making progress on a handful of key issues, including health insurance. Still, several significant matters remain unresolved for now, and discussions over the next few weeks … Continue reading Progress made on key issues

8.17.11 - A total of 21 Newspaper Guild employees took the latest, pension-based voluntary separation offer presented by The Buffalo News. Management said it came close enough to, or exceeded, its goal of cutting Guild payroll and benefits by $1.8 million and, as a result, does not anticipate layoffs to cut costs. “It's great news,” … Continue reading No layoffs; 21 Guild members take buyout

The Guild and management have reached an agreement that enables newsroom employees taking the buyout to return as part-timers if Editor Margaret Sullivan wants them back. The deal, reached last week after weeks of negotiations, was ratified Tuesday by the union’s Executive Committee. The News has also expressed a willingness to offer part-time positions to … Continue reading Deal allows retiring newsroom staffers to return as part-timers

This Sunday, July 31, the Buffalo Newspaper Guild’s contract with The Buffalo News expires. For that reason, we ask all Guild members to wear black on Friday as a reminder of the challenge ahead and our united resolve to stick together to achieve our goals, including affordable health insurance and wages that offer a reasonable … Continue reading Talks continue as contract expires

The Guild on Friday proposed a redesign of health insurance that preserves affordable coverage for members while saving The Buffalo News a significant amount of money. The proposal calls for moving to what’s known as a “low-deductible” health plan that requires some cost-sharing by participants but not premium-sharing. The key elements of the plan are … Continue reading Guild makes health insurance proposal

When is enough enough? Is it the prospect of losing some of our most seasoned reporters in buyouts? Is it the threat of layoffs of our youngest and most promising journalists? Is it proposals to reduce wages, paid days off, holiday pay and mileage reimbursement? Is it demands to give up bargaining rights so the … Continue reading Health insurance: The cost of doing nothing

Since the Guild and The News began negotiations, there has been a good amount of information for all of us to digest. So let's talk about it. All Guild members are invited to a meeting with members of the Guild bargaining team and TNG National Staff Representative Marian Needham. Hear the latest update on contract … Continue reading Informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday

The controversies, complexities and consequences The Guild bargaining team and Buffalo News management on Friday discussed a potential buyout the company has proposed to meet its goal of cutting Guild-related costs by $1.8 million. Every Guild member, young and old, needs to understand the issues involved and the possible repercussions to the newsroom and pension … Continue reading Inside the Buyout

Buffalo News management wants to gut the newsroom and gain the ability to eliminate other Guild represented departments altogether under a contract proposal presented to Guild negotiators Friday. Management announced a plan to cut $1.8 million in costs from the Guild through staff reductions, and reductions in wages and benefits. News management said it wanted … Continue reading News opens negotiations with harsh proposals