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  • Trouble on our doorstep. Read all about it in the summer/fall edition of The Frontier Reporter

    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.

    Frontier Reporter – Summer_Fall 2025Download

  • Informational meetings and vote on tentative agreement scheduled

    July 9, 2015 — The Guild will hold two informational meetings at noon and 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 in the first-floor auditorium to discuss the tentative agreement reached between the Guild bargaining team and The News. We strongly encourage all Guild members to attend. (more…)

  • Tentative agreement reached

    June 22, 2015 — The Guild and The News reached a tentative agreement Friday that maintains fully covered health insurance through 2016, provides cash bonuses and a cellphone allowance, and makes a key improvement in our insurance arrangement in the event of premium increases after the contract expires.

    The tentative agreement for a two-year contract through the end of 2016 does not include a percentage pay raise, a disappointment after more than a year of negotiations. Our last contract expired in July 2014. (more…)

  • June 2015 Executive Committee meeting minutes

    Guild executive committee minutes // Tuesday, June 16, 2015

    President Henry Davis called the meeting to order at 12:34 p.m, June 16, 2015 at The News’ second-floor conference room, One News Plaza.

    Davis provided an update on bargaining with the News and the latest proposals that were exchanged.

    Davis updated the committee on the previous week’s CWA convention in Detroit, which was an important one attended by more than 1,000 people. New president Chris Shelton was elected, as was new secretary/treasurer Sara Steffens; Steffens had been the secretary/treasurer for The Newspaper Guild.

    “She brings a smart, energetic presence to CWA,” Davis said.

    Davis noted that CWA is an “incredibly diverse” union of various industries, including airlines, health care, telephone companies, police officers — in addition to newspapers. He was impressed by how they handled controversial debates regarding CWA policies and approaches to issues. “All treated the opposition with respect,” said Davis. “How things should be handled by union.”

    Davis said he hopes other guild members have the opportunity to attend a CWA convention.

    Davis noted that with Steffens’ ascension, her spot has been filled by Marian Needham

    Marian Needham, the guild’s longtime lead negotiator and adviser, is now No. 2 in TNG as its secretary/treasurer.

    Marian and Henry noted that the CWA and TNG are concentrating on organizing digital workers.

    Motion/Second/Carried Davis/McShea to adjourn at 1:25 p.m.

    Attendance: President Henry Davis, Vice President/Mobilization Phil Fairbanks, Vice President/Grievances Mark Sommer, Treasurer Kim Leiser, Secretary Keith McShea, office manager Tammy Turnbull, ABC chief steward Felice McMillion, classified delegate Beverly Gniewecki, editorial delegates Aaron Besecker, Denise Gee, Mike Harrington and David Robinson, editorial delegate/clerks chief Susan Kelley, alternate district manager delegate Brian Long, mobilization committee members Colin Dabkowski, Steve Watson, Sandy Tan.

    Excused:

    Absent: Past president Pat Gormley, district manager delegate Bob Snyder, district manager chief steward Dick Fay, editorial delegate Trey Bankhead, nightside chief steward Mike Pesarchick,

  • Guild makes a key proposal to News: Focus remains on wages and health insurance

    June 2, 2015 — The Guild bargaining team on Monday presented a package proposal to The News that accepts its proposal for employees to begin paying a portion of medical insurance premiums in 2017. The proposed three-year deal would include raises in two years of a contract that runs through 2017, a one-time cash bonus and elimination of the 5 percent clause that establishes the employee’s share of premium increases after the contract expires. (more…)

  • The Guild and The News in the digital age: Our role in the era of the Internet, social media, cell phones

    May 28, 2015 — The need for The Buffalo News to reinvent itself in the digital age is a reality that no one denies.

    And as the newspaper tries to figure out how to succeed in the era of Facebook and Twitter, members want to know how the Guild views its role. (more…)

  • Guild members outline feelings — in chalk

    Guild members took to the sidewalks outside One News Plaza on May 14 for a job action that involved some creative self-expression. Over a two-hour period, members were encouraged to grab a stick of chalk and make their feelings about the state of contract negotiations known to News management. Members also enjoyed ice cream treats as a reward for their participation.

    Take a look at some of the messages “chalked” by Guild members:

  • Guild members take part in annual shoreline cleanup

    IMG_9872A litter cleanup of the small park at the Ohio Street Boat Launch on April 25 marked the fourth year of a Guild initiative to aid the Spring Shoreline Cleanup coordinated by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.

    The annual effort is conducted in memory of our late friend, reporter and Guild leader John “Jay” Bonfatti. Jay, who died in 2008, loved the outdoors and believed strongly in caring for the natural wonders of Western New York. (more…)

  • News management moves on health insurance: Proposal also includes bonus but no wage increase

    The Buffalo News on Monday rescinded its position on cost shifting for health insurance. Management stepped back from a proposal that would have had members paying a continual and increasing amount of health insurance premiums starting in 2016. (more…)

  • The most interesting thing you will read today is this Guild update

    It’s time to talk to you about health insurance.

    This issue is a recurring challenge for us in bargaining and, as in years past, we must deal with it again in these contract negotiations.

    Here’s the bottom line: If The Buffalo News gets what it wants in insurance, say goodbye to life as you know it. Your pay will decline significantly every year as money is deducted from your salary to offset insurance costs. You may be working full time, but still become poor. (more…)

  • Volunteers needed for cleanup: Guild’s annual community project with Riverkeeper

    Guild members conducted a litter cleanup of the small park at the Ohio Street Boat Launch on April 26.
    Guild members conducted a litter cleanup of the small park at the Ohio Street Boat Launch on April 26, 2014.

    A litter cleanup of the small park at the Ohio Street Boat Launch on Saturday, April 25 will mark the fourth year of a Guild initiative to aid the Spring Shoreline Cleanup coordinated by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.

    The annual effort is conducted in memory of our late friend, reporter and Guild leader John “Jay” Bonfatti. Jay, who died in 2008, loved the outdoors and believed strongly in caring for the natural wonders of Western New York. (more…)