More Carnage at the LA Times - FishbowlLA

More Carnage at the LA Times - FishbowlLA

Tim Rutten on 'Which Way, L.A.?' - LA Observed

Tim Rutten on 'Which Way, L.A.?' - LA Observed

Here's a classy LAT farewell note - LA Observed

Here's a classy LAT farewell note - LA Observed

Newspaper Printing Consolidation Continues

With news that the Chicago Tribune has agreed to print the Chicago Sun-Times and seven of its suburban daily newspapers, it appears that the consolidation of printing within our industry will continue. The Chicago Tribune reports that when the Chicago Sun-Times plant closes its doors this fall, more than 400 union workers, from pressmen to drivers, will be out of work.

For a stunning look at up-to-date plant consolidations/closings click here.

As we are beginning to see in other cities, this news also signals an increased cooperation between once perceived rivals. The Chicago Tribune quoted Sun-Times Media Chairman Jeremy Halbreich as saying; "As the circulation has fallen, it just makes sense to do this...It reflects our economic reality," he said. "I am going to do anything that's necessary to continue to publish these newspapers, to keep our newspapers in business, and this clearly allows us to do that."

With the addition of eight Sun-Times products, the Tribune’s facility will print 15 different products a day including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Investor's Business Daily.

The Tribune reported that Becky Brubaker, senior vice president of manufacturing and distribution for Chicago Tribune Media Group, said the additional work should put the plant near capacity and will require additional staffing to meet production demands. "We look forward to employees from there applying for positions here," she said.

It should be noted that the Sun-Times plant is unionized and the Tribune facility employs mostly non-union workers. Pressmen and drivers are represented by Teamsters Local 706 at both the Tribune and Sun-Times plants. Likewise, machinists at both facilities are members of the International Association of Machinists Local 126. However, electricians at the Sun-Times plant are members of IBEW Local 134, but electricians the Tribune are not. Similarly, Sun-Times mailers and operating engineers are represented by the CWA and the IUOE while comparable positions at the Tribune are non-union.

As union officers, plant closings are one the most painful issues we deal with. With the possibility of some union members moving to non-union shops, this situation, as painful as it is, may create an opportunity for these newspaper unions to stem the loss of the closing. Let’s hope so.

Source Material: Chicago Tribune

In Related News: According to a story in Editor & Publisher, The Forward, one of the American Jewish world’s leading most important newspapers has signed a commercial printing agreement with New York Daily News. With the July 22 English-language edition and the July 15-21 Yiddish-language edition, the Forward will begin producing its entire national press run on Daily News presses in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Daily News is a union shop represented by GCC/IBT Local 2N.

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Friends of GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Ruling may force Tribune Co. to shed assets | Marketing/media | Crain's Chicago Business

By: Lynne Marek July 07, 2011

(Crain's) — In a blow to Tribune Co. as its seeks to emerge from bankruptcy proceedings, the media company may be forced to divest broadcast or newspaper operations in several markets, including Chicago, following a federal appeals court decision Thursday.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia overturned part of the Federal Communication Commission’s 2008 revamp of U.S. media-ownership rules that made it easier to own a newspaper and a broadcast outlet in the same market. The court said that the FCC’s retooling of the cross-ownership rules had failed to meet public notice and comment requirements.

Chicago-based Tribune has waivers from the FCC allowing it to operate broadcast outlets in five markets where it also owns or has stakes in newspapers: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, South Florida and Hartford, Conn.

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Ruling may force Tribune Co. to shed assets | Marketing/media | Crain's Chicago Business

Sundays Meeting~New Time

Sundays meeting has been moved forward one hour and will now begin at 11:00am.
This will allow our brothers and sisters working Saturday night to get enough rest before the meeting.
Executive Board Members are reminded to arrive early for our meeting scheduled to begin at 10:00am.
In Solidarity!

Must See Teamster Convention T.V.

I was humbled, and honored when asked by our Whip, GCC/IBT Local 241M President, John (Jack) Noone,  if I would like to address the Convention and  make the motion * to adopt the Resolution making Iranian Bus Driver and President of the Tehran Bus Workers Union,  Mansour Osanloo an Honorary Teamster for the inhumane treatment he suffered at the hands of the Iranian government for attempting to found a democratic trade union for his fellow bus drivers.  When it was mentioned in the resolution that Brother Mansour has been released from prison, the convention body erupted in applause.

*(pgs. 36-37 of day two's proceedings)

General Meeting Information

Local 140-N will hold its next General Meeting on Sunday July 10, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Commerce Casino beginning at 10:00 am. The Executive Board will meet 1 hour prior to the General Meeting and all Executive board members are required to attend.

As I mentioned in the previous post, there is myriad of information to be disclosed so ALL MEMBERS are encouraged to attend. Remember, your vote at every meeting is valuable and should be exercised or your voice won't be heard.

Food and Drink will be available. 50/50 Raffle and Prizes

Fraternally and in Solidarity,

President Pineda

Local 140-N Update

Ken Hall~Ronnie Pineda~James Hoffa

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

It is good to be back in town after back to back Conventions. Delegates from across the U.S and Canada attended the GCC Convention for 3 days prior to the Teamsters 28th Convention to address  GCC International business. I will have copies of the convention highlights and more at our upcoming General Meeting. There is information that affects all of our members that will be disclosed at this meeting, so I encourage everyone to attend, remember, your vote at every meeting is important.

I was extremely surprised when told by General President Hoffa that he was closely watching our Anti-De-Cert Campaign and was very impressed when he knew the exact vote count. His message was to keep up the good work; I thanked General President Hoffa  and gave him one of our new Local 140-N hats, he thanked us in Los Angeles and pledged his attention and continued support.

General President Hoffa and New, Secretary Treasurer, Ken Hall dominated the nominations and are guaranteed their positions for the next 5 years to lead the Teamsters. Their opposition at this years Convention was crushed at the polls. The opposing candidates low numbers upset many of the delegates for causing unnecessary election expenses for their Locals to bear knowing that their bids to unseat the Hoffa slate was futile.

I encourage everyone to visit the Teamster website to read about the important issues that are being addressed by our General President, James Hoffa  and our Teamster International staff in the Legislative halls of Washington and many states across America. There is a War on Workers being waged by Corporate Billionaires and Republican Governors and The Teamsters are fighting back! Right To Work (for less) bills were introduced by 15 newly elected Republican Governors......ON THE SAME DAY! We cannot allow these rich SOB's to destroy America and our families to satisfy their gluttony and greed. To learn more on The war on Workers visit www.teamsters.org 

This is a concerted effort by the wealthy to eliminate the middle class citizen by introducing bills that deny workers from all walks of life, and trades, their right to bargain with their employer over wages and working conditions. 

Far too many workers take the benefits they receive for granted simply because there is a law in place protecting those benefits. What many fail to realize is that Organized Labor and the Unions that Represented Workers and their rights fought to receive these benefits in their Contracts long ago. Eventually many benefits such as overtime became law.

As far as Local 140 affairs, We are awaiting the return of our Attorney, Adam Stern at which time we intend to request a written statement detailing the specifics of the recent 7 Hour Shift Arbitration Decision and prepare to present our desired resolution to management and their representatives. The Arbitrators decision calls for the parties to come to a resolution, or the Arbitrator will determine what would resolve the contract violation. More on that at our upcoming Meeting.

There is much more ahead including negotiations and other grievances and Arbitration's so be sure to attend the upcoming General Meeting. I am waiting for confirmation of the location but intend on holding the meeting this coming Sunday, July, 10, 2011 so mark your calendar!  

Time and Location will be posted this afternoon,

In Solidarity,

President,

Ronnie Pineda

Local 140-N

Independence Day 2011

Wishing all of our Brothers and Sisters near and far, a happy and safe 4th of July. "Liberty" and "Freedom" should not be taken for granted, Our forefathers, the "Original Unionists", fought for our Independence signing Americas very first Contract with it's People.  

Honor these men and their memory this Independence Day by remembering; if it were not for their vision, wisdom and bravery, America would never have been born. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

IN SOLIDARITY, GCC/IBT LOCAL 140-N 

GCC/IBT Convention

It was an honor and privilege to spend time with friends and colleagues from across the United States and Canada at the GCC and IBT Conventions. It was amazing to see the commitment and dedication of so many union leaders, many of whom I consider friends.

I particularly want to congratulate my friend President Ronnie Pineda and the membership of Local 140 on their recent successful defeat of an ill-conceived plan to deny pressroom employees at the Los Angeles Times a voice in their work place.

This overwhelming vote in support of union representation makes clear that given the correct information, employees will vote to ensure that their voice is heard every time!

Martin Callaghan - President GCC/IBT Local 3N - Boston

7 Hour Shift Arbitration Decision