Two thousand members lost. Twelve newspapers in bankruptcy. Is it any wonder why attendance at this year's annual Newspaper Guild conference was low? I was one of the 112 Guild members from 38 locals who did attend the TNG-CWA conference in Washington D.C. last month and I can report back that, despite the subpar turnout, … Continue reading Guild conference reflects hard times
Buffalo local changing with the times
The Guild, like the newspaper industry, is changing. In Buffalo, change means a new home on the Chippewa Strip, a new way of communicating news and information and a new - and hopefully more appealing - schedule of membership meetings. The reforms are among the most dramatic ever undertaken by the Buffalo local and are … Continue reading Buffalo local changing with the times
Guild fights Buffalo News layoffs
The Buffalo News used buyouts to cut its work force by 36 Guild members last month, and then threatened layoffs as a way of cutting another 21 jobs. The Guild, as of press time for this issue, was meeting with News' executives in hopes of mitigating those layoffs by agreeing to other types of cost … Continue reading Guild fights Buffalo News layoffs
Agreement’s Final Impact on Employees
The final outcome of the cost-savings agreement negotiated with News management has resulted in the overwhelming number of employees faced with layoffs accepting buyouts or receiving enhanced severance pay based on their length of service at The News. The Guild contract provides a way for more senior employees to bump down into lower-level Guild positions … Continue reading Agreement’s Final Impact on Employees
Guild cuts costs; moves back downtown
Fallout from the decline in newspapers isn't limited to employers. Unions are confronting the same monumental changes in the industry and, here in Buffalo, that translates into fewer members and less dues revenue. It also means dramatic changes in how the local spends its money. "With fewer members and less dues coming in, we need … Continue reading Guild cuts costs; moves back downtown
News still projecting 2009 profit
The Buffalo News is projecting a smaller-than-expected profit this year because of its inability to bargain concessions from other unions and a steeper-than-expected drop in advertising. The decline in News' profits was the big news to come out of the first Labor Management Committee meeting between members of the Guild and News management last month. … Continue reading News still projecting 2009 profit
Guild to survey members about its future
Guild members will soon be receiving a survey designed to strengthen our union and refocus our efforts on the priorities and needs of its membership. By canvassing our Guild community, we hope to find new and creative ways to keep everyone informed, interested and active. Having weathered a difficult few months at the start of … Continue reading Guild to survey members about its future
June Meeting Minutes
President Pat Gormley called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m, May 26, 2009. Motion/Second/Carried, Gormley/Tan: To approve minutes of the April 2009 meeting as they appeared in the Frontier Reporter. Correspondence: None. Committees: Grievances: Fay advised that there are six or seven grievances outstanding, all involving scheduling part-timers. In some cases, management is not … Continue reading June Meeting Minutes
Buffett sticking with The News
Warren Buffett doesn't think much of newspapers as money makers these days, but he's standing by The Buffalo News. Buffett offered his most candid assessment to date of where he thinks The News and the industry are headed at the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Neb. this month. Berkshire owns The News and … Continue reading Buffett sticking with The News
Guild members gain a voice in The News’ future
There's not much to celebrate about the Guild's recent settlement with The Buffalo News, an agreement marked by layoffs, buyouts and give backs. One of the exceptions is a new labor-management committee designed to give Guild members a greater voice in the future of the newspaper. The panel will meet for the first time this … Continue reading Guild members gain a voice in The News’ future
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 