Assigned Crew Arbitration Decision

Arbitrator John Kagel-Crew Selection Decision

An Evening at Knott's Berry Farm Raffle

Raffle

Why Not Occupy Newsrooms?

Why Not Occupy Newsrooms?
October 23, 2011

By DAVID CARR

Almost two weeks ago, USA Today put its finger on why the Occupy Wall Street protests continued to gain traction.

“The bonus system has gone beyond a means of rewarding talent and is now Wall Street’s primary business,” the newspaper editorial stated, adding: “Institutions take huge gambles because the short-term returns are a rationale for their rich payouts. But even when the consequences of their risky behavior come back to haunt them, they still pay huge bonuses.”

Well thought and well put, but for one thing: If you were looking for bonus excess despite miserable operations, the best recent example I can think of is Gannett, which owns USA Today.

The week before the editorial ran, Craig A. Dubow resigned as Gannett’s chief executive. His short six-year tenure was, by most accounts, a disaster. Gannett’s stock price declined to about $10 a share from a high of $75 the day after he took over; the number of employees at Gannett plummeted to 32,000 from about 52,000, resulting in a remarkable diminution in journalistic boots on the ground at the 82 newspapers the company owns.

Never a standout in journalism performance, the company strip-mined its newspapers in search of earnings, leaving many communities with far less original, serious reporting.

Given that legacy, it was about time Mr. Dubow was shown the door, right? Not in the current world we live in. Not only did Mr. Dubow retire under his own power because of health reasons, he got a mash note from Marjorie Magner, a member of Gannett’s board, who said without irony that “Craig championed our consumers and their ever-changing needs for news and information.”

But the board gave him far more than undeserved plaudits. Mr. Dubow walked out the door with just under $37.1 million in retirement, health and disability benefits. That comes on top of a combined $16 million in salary and bonuses in the last two years.

(read the rest) Click here

Brother John Rickett is gone........

I just received unconfirmed news that brother John Rickett has passed away. Brother Padgett sent me a text this afternoon informing me of John's untimely passing. I dont have any details or cause of death and will forward the information as it becomes available. Please say a prayer for John and his family.

Boston Newspaper Printing Pressmen's Union Local No. 3: NLRB Finds Santa Barbara Newspaper Committed Multi...

Boston Newspaper Printing Pressmen's Union Local No. 3: 
NLRB Finds Santa Barbara Newspaper Committed Multi...: After years of battle at Santa Barbara News-Press, the GCC/IBT won a major victory today when the National Labor Relations Board unanimo...

Cross Border Trucking Press Conference

Press Conference

General President Hoffa joined representatives from the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association along with U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)  and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) in Otay/Mesa on the US/ Mexico border to hold a press conference this afternoon to denounce the crossing of Mexican trucks into the U.S. This Department of Transportation pilot program will cost American truck drivers jobs and put all American drivers safety at risk.

We've been assured by the DOT that these trucks will be safe and that GPS units will track mexican trucks while in the U.S. The first problem with this is that American Taxpayers are going to foot the bill for this technology not the companies that these deathtrap trucks are owned by.

We will have no way of knowing whether the mexican trucks are hauling legitimate cargo or drugs and contraband! We have no idea whether the Mexican Truck behind us on the freeway is going to be able to stop in time, or stop at all for that matter. Has the mexican truck driver slept the required hours of sleep determined necessary to operate a tractor trailer safely? Are his tires in good shape? Brakes?

Now lets talk about emissions! These Mexican trucks do not and will not meet our clean air quality standards and will deposit tons of diesel smog into our air. The list of potential nightmares are endless and we need to put an end to this "Pilot Disaster" before the first American life is lost and another American Driver has lost his seat behind the wheel.

Contact your representatives and tell them you too are opposed to Mexican Trucks crossing our borders!

IN SOLIDARITY!

Teamster Members attending Press conference

General President Hoffa talking with supportive members

Teamster V.P. at Large, Rick Middleton, General President, James Hoffa Jr. GCC/IBT Local 140-N President Ron Pineda 

General President Hoffa addressing the media

Teamster Nation: VIDEO: Fox News gets a drubbing

Teamster Nation: VIDEO: Fox News gets a drubbing: And here's a shock: This interview with writer (and OWSer) Jesse LaGreca never got aired on Fox News.

The Truth According to X

Thanks to Retired Organizing Director Bert Haft for posting on Facebook.