Local 406 Ratification

Sunday all 6 bargaining units ratified a 3 year agreement with Newsday. Facing the choice of ratification or working under impasse and all that goes along with that, had much to do with the vote going foward. Also the state of the industry and lack of other employment opportunities contributed to accepting this agreement. Ratification votes were taken twice and this was the third attempt. The crux of the issues hinged on givebacks of 10% for transportation and 5% for the remaining bargaining units, with a wage freeze for 3 years. The company was also seeking elimination of the 5th week vacation and a forty hour work week. There was also an attempt to outsource the transportation dept and change the seniority system for layoffs in editorial. Special thanks to George Tedeschi and Teamster economist Jim Kimball for helping get this done.We negotiated a 52 week severance for employees that leave over the three year term. We also will also receive a DCRP of 1% gross pay beginning in 2013. We were able to retain all the important language and working conditions in the contracts.


We can only hope advertising can return and make the newspaper profitable. It seems there is some resentment for parent company Cablevision for expecting us to pay for a newspaper they dearly overpaid for. Meet the new boss......... same as the old boss.

Lou Nicosia Local 406

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Pressman Blogger re-instated at the Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Pressman Blogger re-instated at the Los Angeles Times#links

Congatulations Ed, I was not surprised to see the level of support you received during this situation; from all of your brothers and sisters of GCC/IBT Local 140-N, to all of the wonderful personalities from the blogoshere. Our Attorney's in Washington reviewed the details in the blog post and were not convinced that Ed did anything wrong to warrant a suspension or any dicipline for that matter.

This was not a case of tarnishing the company's image: hell, Sam Zell has done enough on his own to do that........not to mention his side kick from outer space! The facts are what they are and as long as no dispairaging remarks are made toward the company or the product, there should be no danger of having one's loyalty questioned.

I am convinced that 30+ years of service proves loyalty beyond reproach, which Ed, as well as many, many others have exhibited through their perfomance, dedication, determination and above all, loyalty more times than this current management team can imagine.

This outcome, my Brothers and Sisters is a great example of solidarity, and what it can accomplish; I am proud of everyone that stood together on our Local Recording Secretary's behalf.

Brother Berry Tillage asked me to extend his deepest appreciation to all that expressed their displeasure with Ed's suspension, and for the support they offered Ed during his time away from his second home, the Pressroom.

In Solidarity,
Ronnie Pineda,
President
GCC/IBT Local 140-N

L.A. Times Management Violate Employee's First Ammendment Rights

Ed Padgett, AKA "The Blogging Pressman" was suspended today by management, pending an investigation, for content he posted on http://www.edpadgett.com/ regarding the production problems experienced on Thursday, June 18, 2010.  An announcement  by the L.A. Times Publisher, Eddy Hartenstein vaguely described the situation;  Ed's post included details and opinions that Ed has every right to post under the same First Ammendment that protects the company's right to publish a newspaper.

 (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.)— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Apparently Ed's comments were not well received by management and their feelings got hurt. Thats a shame because management should be more receptive to the constructive critcism that would prevent them from making foolish decisions such as suspending Brother Ed. Ed DID NOT disclose any company or trade secrets that would be detremental to the business, or operation, he merely voiced his opinion based on his more than 30 years experience working for the Los Angeles Times.

No one in management comes close to Ed's years of experience or dedicated service to this newspaper. As a matter of fact, none of his accusers could hold a candle to his ability to operate the behomoth presses that produce the L.A. Times! It has always been an area of contention when managers tell Qualified Journeypresspersons how to do their job, when they are incapable of perfoming our Craft. 

Ed, as many of you are aware of, is our Local Recording Secretary;  management has targeted our Executive Board Members on previous occassions for demotions and dicipline as a form of punishment for exercising our rights under the law to form a union. I intend on filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge tomorrow morning for that very reason.

This is a fight that we as a Union, will not back down from! I have said to the previous management team that if they don't like what is on their radio, change the station, if they don't like whats on their television, change the channel and if they don't like what they read on the internet, DON'T COME TO OUR SITES! They were not created for their benefit to begin with! Yeah I'm talking to you in Chicago,(whoever you are), and locally, Newton, Walker and Malcolm!

The Union will seek a reversal of Ed's suspension as well as retribution for Ed's lost wages. I have spoken to President Tedeschi and he agrees that this is a form of unjust dicipline and we have the support of the International and it's Legal team. I also suspect Ed's Blogging Community will allign their forces in defense of Brother Ed's rights to blog on the internet and voice his opinions that are legally protected.

Since you, management cannot resist, and will never cease reading our blogs, here is a message directly to you.

First, recognized Ed Padgett's rights under the law to post whatever he has a right to publish and reverse his suspension. Second, compensate Ed for his lost wages and this matter will be considered resolved. Should you decide to ignore these recommendations, we are prepared to defend Ed's rights to the bitter end and address this matter publicly, as well as in the legal arena, the choice is yours.

In Solidarity,

Ronnie Pineda,

President,

GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Teamster Press Release

06.15.10FCCTribune

Another Lie! Timeclock Coming Soon!

I was informed by management that a Kronos Timekeeper will be installed in the pressroom sometime mid August.
During negotiations, Russ said that this would not happen and that any employee cards would be used for security purposes only. Our negotiation notes will verify his statements regarding time clocks. 

More lies Russ! Cash that Bonus check that you say you don't get Russ? Pay severance instead of looking for more ways like this to piss off your employees. Punch in, Punch out, tell the truth, tell a lie;  time has a way of exposing the truth and time will tell.

Time to stand together Brothers and Sisters. You know what we've been through and you now see whats lies ahead; MORE LIES!  Will this finally be enough to convince Union doubters that the truth is only a concept and management does not feel obligated to abide by it. We have been lied to more by the current SVP than all former SVP's put together. Don't worry he won't be offended, are you? He's proud of the fact that he lies and there are still those that trust him. You know who you are and he not only lies to you too, he also laughs at you for trusting him.

I have no doubt another grievance will be filed in August.

Don't get mad about this notice unless you intend on staying mad, and then doing something about it! Solidarity will stop this pathological liar. He lies because he feels you don't deserve the truth and he has no respect for anyone he considers beneath him, hows that for the truth?

Republican Leader Boehner wants US Taxpayers to Clean Up BP's Boner!

ALERT: U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Republican Leader John Boehner want taxpayers to help pick up BP's tab for environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Tell John Boehner: No BP Bailout!

Friend --
How is this for outrageous? Republican Leader John Boehner actually suggested that American taxpayers should be hit with the bill to help clean up Big Oil giant BP's spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And it gets worse...

In making this outrageous suggestion, Boehner was agreeing with one of the Republicans' biggest shadow groups - a group that has pledged to spend more than $50 million this cycle attacking Democrats and trying to elect other Big Oil protecting Republicans to Congress. But it gets even worse than that...

Boehner's suggestion of a taxpayer-funded bailout for Big Oil giant BP came after he and other Republicans accepted more than $188 million combined in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. This calls for an immediate response from Grassroots Democrats.

Visit our newly-launched website, http://www.boehnerbpbailout.com/ to sign our petition denouncing John Boehner's Taxpayer Funded Bailout for Big Oil giant BP - then help spread the word on Facebook  http://www.dccc.org/bpfbshare  and Twitter  http://www.dccc.org/bptwshare 

Thanks,
Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director

P.S. One you sign the petition, share it with your friends on Facebook ( http://www.dccc.org/bpfbshare ) and Twitter ( http://www.dccc.org/bptwshare )!

Sign the Petition:
http://dccc.org/bpas

Newspaper ads returning !

According to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), newspaper print
and online advertising continued to drop in the first quarter of 2010.
However, the drop (9.7%) was the mildest since the first quarter of
2007.

NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm said the data shows the ad
environment for newspapers is turning for the better. He said:

"While broad, macroeconomic factors indicate we are not out of the
woods yet, NAA is encouraged by
the improvements we are seeing in newspaper ad spending.
...declines are moderating across the board
and, in some instances, have turned positive. Total newspaper
online ad spending increased nearly
five percent in the first quarter, a sign that marketers are
returning to newspapers...

"(The NAA continues to) to hear the that an advertising rebound is
getting closer. These sentiments,
combined with the changes newspaper companies have made to their
business models to develop new,
multiplatform strategies, reinforce the industry's strategic
positioning within a new media landscape."