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Trouble on our doorstep. Read all about it in the summer/fall edition of The Frontier Reporter
We had some political mayhem and the close of Lee Enterprises’ fiscal year, all of which has spelled trouble for the Guild. Check out new features and all the Guild news you may have from the summer and fall in the latest edition of The Frontier Reporter newsletter.
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Guild rep attends NewsGuild’s New Local Officers Seminar
Luke Hammill, the Buffalo Newspaper Guild’s Sun papers steward, recently attended the national NewsGuild’s New Local Officers Seminar, held March 1 to 4 in the Baltimore, Md., area.
Topics included stewards’ rights and responsibilities, bargaining goals and strategies, mobilization and organizing. Many of this year’s attendees came from newly organized shops across the United States, reflecting the wave of unionization that has taken place at American media organizations in the past few years.
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Guild executive committee meeting minutes: Wednesday, May 9, 2019
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m, Wednesday, May 9, 2019 at The News’ auditorium, One News Plaza.
Vice President for Conference Enforcement Aaron Besecker’s update: “We will be filing a grievance in accounting regarding work that was ours that has moved to management. We have been in talks with them for a while because they said they’d give it back — and they haven’t.”
Besecker said that the Guild would be going forward in discussions with management regarding some sports work being done by freelancers. (more…)
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Guild members volunteer for annual Shoreline Sweep
From left, Mike Pesarchick Jr., Francesca Bond and Aaron Besecker. By Mike Pesarchick Jr.
The sun was shining on the Scajaquada Pathway as I, Aaron Besecker and Francesca Bond arrived to take part in Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s annual Shoreline Sweep, dedicated to cleaning up trash from the area’s waterways.
The Guild has taken part in the sweep for many years now; this was the first year we went to Scajaquada Creek to clean up. In recent years, we had cleaned up the shores at Father Conway Park in the Old First Ward.
We and the two dozen other volunteers were issued neoprene gloves, trash bags and tongs and marched off to the shore.
Trash ranged from small candy wrappers to beer growlers and basketballs. Dozens, if not hundreds of plastic bottles and Styrofoam plates littered the shore, most likely heaved from the thousands of cars that pass by on the Scajaquada Expressway yards from the water.
In two hours of work, we three pulled six full bags of trash and recyclable bottles, two basketballs and one shopping cart out of the water and off the shore.
With 2,300 other volunteers sweeping 60 locations across Western New York, we were just a small part of the machine, but it felt good to make a difference.
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Guild members participate in annual Kids Day
Members of the Guild sold Kids Day editions of The Buffalo News once again this year to benefit Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Guild members volunteer each year at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and East Ferry Street to sell papers in the early morning hours.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, thanks to decent weather, enthusiastic volunteers and generous souls, the Guild’s Kids Day volunteers raised $304. This is our highest total in more than a decade at least.
Reporter Maki Becker sells papers at Jefferson and East Ferry. (Photo by Sharon Cantillon) -
Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, April 16, 2019
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
Motion/Second/Carried Fairbanks/Robinson to approve the executive committee meeting minutes for March.
Vice President for Contract Enforcement Aaron Besecker reported on contract issues.
There was a grievance committee prior to the executive meeting where a sports freelance photo situation was addressed. Management told Besecker that The Guild would receive a note from them that they admitted wrongdoing regarding this situation.
Steve Elwell from Level Financial spoke to the executive committee regarding its shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock and the current makeup of The Guild’s portfolio, along with different options The Guild may be interested in pursuing. He delivered a comprehensive explanatory presentation and participated in a question-and-answer session.
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Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
Motion/Second/Carried Tan/Leiser to approve minutes for January and updates for October and November.
Mobilization
Tan reports that Interim Vice President for Mobilization and Communication Colin Dabkowski will be stepping back until at least the summer from VP duties because of his full-time work and school obligations.
Administrative Officer Kim Leiser says Dabkowski called and said there is nothing to report.
Vice President for Contract Enforcement Aaron Besecker reports no open or active grievances.
Former President Henry Davis, head of the Guild’s retiree chapter, is in attendance. -
Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
Interim Vice President for Mobilization and Communication Colin Dabkowski issued his mobilization report.
A new Frontier Reporter has been published; topic for next issue is unknown.
With the start of the spring semester for Colin, he will be unable to do his duties for the next four months or so. The Guild is seeking a new Vice President for Mobilization and Communication.
Dabkowski mentioned that his stipend could be put towards social activities.
President Sandy Tan and Administrative Officer Kim Leiser discussed plans for the next sector conference and said that we would rather send new Guild officers to the also-upcoming new officers conference.
Following up on last meeting, The News agreed to give two of the more senior members of the Guild access to freight elevators. If anyone else needs access and demonstrates needs, mobility, etc., members are urged to let Sandy know and she will see about getting them access.
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Guild executive committee minutes: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:09 p.m Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
Secretary Keith McShea confirmed the unconfirmed: The minutes for September and October are not ready for approval.
Interim Vice President for Mobilization and Communication Colin Dabkowski issued his mobilization report. It was brief.
“Nothing doin. We’re working on the next issue of the Frontier Reporter, which highlights new blood here with the Guild.”
Tan discussed her conversation with Bryan Donahue regarding how night employees no longer have access to the freight elevator.
The committee agreed that it thinks this is outrageous, particularly for older employees — some of whom have dedicated 50 years to The News. Tan and the committee pledged to continue to pester News management about this frustrating issue.
Vice President for Contract Enforcement Aaron Besecker delivered his committee report.
The committee met before the meeting on a couple of issues.
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Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
Vice President for Contract Enforcement Aaron Besecker delivered his committee report.
Besecker and President Sandy Tan had a meeting regarding freelancers in sports with Margaret Kenny and Josh Barnett. There will be two Sabres freelancers this year, including Bill Hoppe writing about prospects. It was noted that departed News Reporter Amy Moritz regularly did a prospects feature/roundup in recent years.
Chris Trapasso is writing four pieces a week, termed “non-analytical” by management, for BN Blitz.
“This definitely bears watching,” Tan said.
The committee discussed the freelance work, the Guild’s stance against it last year, how Digital Content Producers and the new contract language apply to the situation, and possible actions the Guild might consider taking.
“The reason we care about it, is that if we let jurisdiction slip, you end up with a department with one person, and that’s called the Features Department,” said Interim Vice President for Mobilization and Communication Colin Dabkowski.
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Guild executive committee minutes: Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018
President Sandy Tan called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.
There is a new hire in ABC. Felice McMillion explained the situation in which The News was seeking an additional three months of probation.
Motion/Second/Carried Robinson/Portman to extend probation by three months for a new ABC hire, provided that The News is able to produce and execute an acceptable plan for her training.
Vice President for Contract Enforcement Aaron Besecker delivered his committee report.
Approved grievance: Discover Magazine used editorial photos in this advertorial product. Committee is planning on additional discussions with management; official grievance has not been filed yet.
Interim Vice President for Mobilization and Communication Colin Dabkowski issued his report.
Colin credited Ellen with the fabulous design of the special Frontier Reporter issue that celebrated the members who left via buyouts during the summer.
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 