UNCLE RUSS WANTS YOU, to impeach me!

Sources informed me today that SVP of Operations and Home Delivery, Russ Newton is now attempting to "ENLIST" pressroom employees to remove me from my office as Local 140-N President. Is this a rumor? No, my source isn't management so it's definitely true.Why would Russ seek my removal from office other than to get rid of our Union as well.

Now why would he want to get rid of our Union?
Can you imagine how great he would look to whomever takes control of the L.A. Times when he tells them "I got rid of the Teamsters, now "I" can do whatever you want!"

He and his anti-union Pressroom cohorts, continue to fail in their efforts to expel our Union from the Times because I believe the remaining fulltime pressmen and presswomen know that these individuals are only on managements side simply to enhance their own position through perks from management for their willing participation against all of you Union members. We all know its true, these people have no shame or self respect and they have already proven to me and many others that they will bend over and lie for the company regardless of how it effects all of you in the shop. Pariahs are what I would view them as, hard working men and women such as yourselves call them more colorful names that we have all heard before.

Now ask yourself, what would Russ really do if I, and the Union were gone? 

Would you receive the same wages?
 Doubt it! You wouldn't even have the opportunity to discuss your worth!

Would you receive the same benefits?
Probably not due to a new Corporate America trend that is resulting from the implementation of Obamacare where employers are demoting employees from fulltime to part-time with less than 30 hours a week to avoid paying health benefits. Don't worry, I'm not giving them any  ideas they are already planning to do if Russ succeeds.

Believe me, the Union is the only protection we have from this company, its managers and the supervisors that do their bidding regardless of the fact that they too were once one of us! I know they fear for their jobs too but I cannot believe no one, even them, has the courage to say how they truly feel about how they are forced to treat all of you because of retribution from Russ!

I am not the one that needs to go, IT IS YOU RUSS, I HOPE CHICAGO HAS BEEN KEEPING SCORE BECAUSE YOU HAVE COST THEM MORE MONEY THAN I HAVE FIGHTING FOR THE EMPLOYEES INSTEAD OF AGAINST THEM. THE MONEY YOU HAVE WASTED FIGHTING US COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO INCREASE WAGES AND BENEFITS, IMPROVE SAFETY, AND IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE SHOP. INSTEAD YOU CHOSE TO MAKE THE LAWYERS RICHER  BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OR MORE JUST TO AVOID LOOKING WEAK AND NOT IN CHARGE, YOUR ACTIONS ARE THOSE OF A TYRANT AND YOU NEED TO GO, OR BE STOPPED! 

NEITHER I, NOR THIS UNION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE ACTIONS RESULTING FROM YOUR DECISIONS, THE UNION IS NOT TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE PERSONALLY CHOSE TO DO TO PRESSROOM EMPLOYEES OUT OF SHEER SPITE AND NO OTHER PLAUSIBLE REASON!  

DO FOR THE EMPLOYEES INSTEAD OF AGAINST THEM AND NEITHER I, NOR THIS UNION OF EMPLOYEES, WOULD EVEN BE NEEDED. 

GREED IS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY! I REMEMBER YOU ALWAYS CLAIMING YOU DON'T RECEIVE BONUSES, MORE LIES! LIES TO THE TUNE OF OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS OR $229,000.00 TO BE EXACT! THAT WAS IN ONE YEAR ALONE WHILE PRESSROOM EMPLOYEES WERE BEING LAID OFF WITHOUT SEVERANCE, HOW MUCH MORE HAVE YOU RECEIVED SINCE? CARE TO REVEAL THOSE FIGURES? YOU GET MORE FOR DOING LESS AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCEPT LESS BECAUSE YOU THINK WE DESERVE LESS! WHAT MAKES YOU MORE VALUABLE THAN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ACTUALLY PRINT THE NEWSPAPER? LAYOFF HUNDREDS OF SKILLED LABORERS AND LINE YOUR OWN POCKET WITH THE SAVINGS! WITHOUT US, EVERYONE'S WORK AT THE TIMES IS FOR NAUGHT, INCLUDING YOURS, IF NOT ESPECIALLY YOURS! 

We, the Union, and I personally, have sought to have an amicable relationship with you for the benefit of the members but your continued actions that intentionally hurt our members and their families prevent that from happening. You claim you are just doing your job, but I truly believe you get pleasure from causing pain and sorrow; to me, that is just plain sick!

 I'll leave when the members decide its time for me to leave, NOT YOU!

Footnote:  For the record, this site is intended for Bargaining Unit members of the Los Angeles Times Pressroom. I choose for the site to remain public,while it is understood and I am aware that L.A. Times management in Los Angeles and Tribune legal counsel in Chicago visit MY site regularly for the sole purpose of gathering information to use against us. I stipulate, that this is "MY" site because this site is paid for solely by me, and is not funded by the union or Local 140-N.

Los Angeles Times to Layoff 10 in Pressroom

Layoff Notice 8-11-11

CONTINUE TO START WORK BEFORE YOUR SHIFT, KEEP HANGING ROLLS WITHOUT A PARTNER, KEEP SKIPPING YOUR BREAKS, CONTINUE TO COME BACK EARLY FROM LUNCH.
Why do we keep doing these things that make it so much easier for the company to lay more of us off.
When will we "Stop helping the company eliminate our jobs"!

7 Hour Shift Arbitration Decision

Negotiations

The Union and the Co. met on April 6 & 7 to begin negotiations on our new contract. We covered a variety of topics which were addressed by our Contract Review Committee and have exchanged several proposals based on the committees findings.

We did reach tentative agreements in areas of the grievance and arbitration  language that would speed up the process of selecting an Arbitrator and having our grievances heard and resolved. We also cleaned and agreed to remove any language that was unnecessary.

A memo was posted detailing an agreement to re-pick vacations which in  turn, resolved two grievances regarding vacation picking. Any one that would suffer a financial loss as a result of re-picking must notify the union with proof of loss such as airline or hotel reservations and those vacation times will be granted. This will be a one time situation as schedules should now be picked prior to vacations going forward. Receipts or non-refundable deposits must be dated prior to April 7, 2011

Some Members have asked to attend the negotiations and are welcome to observe by the union on a limited basis due to seating by first notifying Executive Vice President Denson or myself.

Negotiations resume on May 3&4.

In Solidarity!
President Pineda

BONE-US BONUS!

                   He believes he deserves this money
               and still thinks all of you are overpaid!


ALL OF THIS MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO BUILD A PRISON TO HOUSE ALL OF THESE THIEVES INSTEAD OF REWARDING THEMSELVES FOR RUINING THE LIVES, FAMILIES AND CAREERS OF HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO OWN THIS BANKRUPT INSTITUTION.


DENNIS FITZSIMONS AND SAM ZELL SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE THE EXECUTIVES OF ENRON AND PROSECUTED FOR THEIR BLATENT FIDUCIARY IRRESPONSIBILTY AND FOR ORCHESTRATING THE PRIVATIZATION FIASCO THAT LED TO THE DEMISE OF TRIBUNE'S FINANCIAL HOLDINGS.

THE "LOVE" OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL! 

Civil Court and Arbitration Updates

Click on letters to enlarge and print



 

I apologize for the delay in producing these updates, I have had quite a busy schedule lately preparing for these arbitrations and upcoming arbitrations; my month has included Doctor and Attorney appointments, therapy, acupuncture and a funeral to end my week.

Please make sure that everyone in the shop is made aware of these updates and go the extra mile by printing several copies to distribute.

IN SOLIDARITY,

RONNIE PINEDA

PRESIDENT, GCC/IBT LOCAL 140-N

WORLD'S MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES

Best & worst in: Management quality:

Least Admired # 4 Tribune (<-click)

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

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?

ESOP MY ASS! EMPLOYEE OWNERS WANT THEIR SHARE TOO!

Tribune Chapter 11 Plan Includes $15M In Executive Bonuses

Tribune Co. has unveiled plans for a third round of top executive bonuses, nearly $15 million, bringing to more than $72 million the amount of pay enhancements the media company handed out while operating under bankruptcy protection.

Publisher of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Baltimore Sun and operator of a chain of broadcast stations, Tribune wrapped the latest bonus programs into the Chapter 11 plan it will be sending out for creditor votes.

Creditors will be voting on the bonuses as they decide whether to support Tribune’s plan, which dishes out equity to cover part of its $12.7 billion debt load.

The new bonuses, which cover 42 top executives, include nine of Tribune’s 10 top-ranking corporate leaders, according to papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del.

They are in addition to $57.4 million worth of bonuses already approved by a bankruptcy judge over the protests of unions whose members lost jobs due to the company’s financial struggles. The earlier bonuses were paid out between May 2009 and February 2010.

Hundreds of managers were included in the court-approved bonus programs, along with top executives. Tribune has refused to identify top leaders who participated or say how much they received, other than to say Chairman Sam Zell didn’t participate.

The Chicago company also hasn’t revealed the identities of insiders who collected $268 million in pay, bonuses and severance pay the year before the company filed bankruptcy.

Tribune filed for Chapter 11 protection in December 2008 after a leveraged buyout piled $8 billion worth of debt on the media enterprise.

It hopes to be out of bankruptcy by September as the property largely of banks that financed the deal. If Tribune’s Chapter 11 plan is approved, the company will have shaken off billions in debt and silenced questions about the wisdom of the LBO transaction.

Yet to be revealed is the percentage of equity in the reorganized company that will be set aside for management under Tribune’s Chapter 11 plan. Like most companies departing bankruptcy, Tribune has said it plans to reward management with stakes in the reorganized media company.

How much equity executives will get, Tribune hasn’t said. The company’s financial advisers estimate the post-Chapter 11 company will have an equity value of $4.1 billion.

A spokesman and an attorney for Tribune didn’t respond Tuesday to requests for information about the equity incentive plan. The company has promised to supplement information on its Chapter 11 plan before a July 30 voting deadline on the plan.

(This report is from Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review, which covers news about distressed companies and those under bankruptcy protection.)

Newsletter Launch with April Issue

With the launch of this Newsletter, members will have another form of receiving information. Members currently visit this and Ed Padgett's site for information as well as view posted information in the bulletin boards and receive recorded telemessaging information from Executive Vice President Keith Denson.

The newsletter will be produced once a month. All other Local Union matters will be provided to the members as events occur through the regular methods described above. Questions and suggestions for the newsletter can be sent to admin@saveourtrade.com

Newsletter April

Business or Bullshit!

We all know that the newspaper industry has suffered beyond measure, leaving great reporters to truck drivers, and everyone in between in its wake of destruction. We have all suffered immeasurable casualties of our own here at the L.A. Times, sadly at the hands of a bunch of Tribune LIARS AND CROOKS!

These same SOB's have the balls to call the Union Officers Thugs! Nothing good has ever happened to benefit the employees of the Los Angeles Times under the stewardship of Tribune Corp. RAPE AND PILLAGE has been the M.O. all along.

From Madigan to Zell, all we have witnessed is the downward spiral of a once great newspaper, not as much, in my opinion, due to the economy, as to FUCKING GREED AND MISMANAGEMENT! I am damn tired of the bullshit the company spews in the name of saving costs and creating a newspaper that the consumer will want. THOSE DAYS ARE OVER! The ineptitude of the powers that be have sent even the most loyal L.A. Times readers elsewhere, and I doubt they will come back no matter what redesign they come up with!

The thing that fucking pisses me off the most is that some of these assholes are fucking enjoying what they are doing to the employees in the pressroom. Management doesn't give a shit about what will happen to all of the families and the future they have disrupted, as long as they continue to get their fucking money! How the fuck they sleep at night is beyond me!

What the fuck do they do to deserve a job over the people that actually create the newspaper? All they do is go to meetings all day and try to find new and creative ways to fuck the employees out of their jobs to save money. Why don't they all get off their asses and the asses of their workers and finds ways to earn money for the company instead of laying everyone off to save a buck and their own asses!

Trying to get the Bankruptcy Court to allow them to distribute 22 to 66 Million Dollars in bonuses to incentivize these idiots is a fucking insult to our intelligence and should not be allowed without a fight! Money is not the root of all evil.......the love of money is.

Message to Management, I created this Blog for the pressroom employees, NOT YOU LYING ASSHOLES! So like I've said before, if you don't like what I posted here, then don't fucking come here! I hope you all loose your fucking jobs, health insurance, retirement and homes, you HEARTLESS BASTARDS! I admit, this is unprofessional, but I'm sick and tired of my Brothers and Sisters being fucked over for forming a Union here at the sacred, non-union L.A. Times. Go back to Chicago and take Stumpy with you!!

De-Authorization Petition Blocked

On Friday April 10, 2009 GCC/IBT Local 140-N received a notice from the N.L.R.B. that Orange County Operator, Lee Carey filed a Petition for a de-authorization election. The purpose of de-authorization is to have the union security and dues check-off language stripped from the contract. The remainder of the contract remains in force.

Although Carey, Saterlee and Espinosa have the right, their motives are again questionable at best.

Our Attorney informed our Local that our pending board charges serve to block the attempt to have the Board grant an election at this time. We have also informed the board that we are challenging the petition and charge that the solicitation of signatures was tainted. This will prevent the petition from being considered at a later time when current charges are addressed by the board.

More on this subject as it progresses.

Useful Links for the 63

COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009

FAQs For Employees About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage

General Information about the Unemployment Insurance Program is available at:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/

To file a UI claim over the Internet click on:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

To file a claim by telephone number:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Telephone_Numbers.htm

Additional information and assistance may be obtained at:

http://www.dol.gov/

Agency Fee Payer Information

The following documents were mailed to everyones home to provide information regarding non-member dues and the process to become a "financial core member" The letter explains the member advantages that are forfeited when full membership is not desired by the employee.

The dollar amount of monthly dues for an "Agency Fee Payer" member is $48.04. The formula is based on $60.00 per month that a full member pays which includes the International per capita at the chargeable amount rate of 80.06%. This amount is deductable through "dues check-off" by completing and submitting a dues check off authorization form.

Dues may also be mailed to Secretary Treasurer, Linard Williams using the following information:

Secretary Treasurer
Linard Williams
24009 Pasala Ct
Valencia, Ca. 91355

Dues deducted from members currently facing layoff on April 6th will be refunded after that time.
LATimesduesletterFeb 8

Publish at Scribd or explore others: gcc/ibt l.a. times

Beck Laws2

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Religion & Spiritual Other healing attraction

1967 Union Rally at The Times

WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

"The Los Angeles Times Has Labor Problems In Their Pressrooms"

read the signs worn by former pressmen.

Photo courtesy of the Late William (Bill) Torrance
(Center of Photo, being interviewed)

Archives given to our Local contained this photo along with a treasure trove of documents from the 1960's and the history between the company and the pressroom employees

Union Activity from that era.

This photo is a testament to the company's decades old and antiquated position of union busting, and the employees quest for fairness and equality.

I hope to have all these documents reviewed by the Teamsters Historical Department for proper preservation.

Re-post from TELLZELL.com

(Originally posted on tellzell.com less than 6 months ago)
An echo to Steve Grant's Testimony
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Touching a Nerve

All right, the Retch knows he's way late on this, but the Dan Neil et al. lawsuit seems to have touched a nerve. Who knew that Sam Zell -- more likely the thin-skinned Randy Michaels -- cared so much? First, check out the language of the email that Zell sent out to let employees know about the lawsuit:

There is a difference between questioning authority or challenging the "business as usual attitude," and maligning the company in public. That's just bad judgment and does no one any good. It's a distraction that's unnecessary.We are partners. We need to act like it. Sam, the time for "acting" like partners ended when you cursed at us; when you denigrated us; when you told us we were overhead; when you fired reporters; when you cut back newshole; when you deprived our readers of information about their lives to make the payments on your over-leveraged debt.

Partner, in case your dictionary knowledge is as lacking as your lackey's grammatical knowledge, is a word which implies equality. But you have never acted as an equal. We have no power. We have no say. We have never been consulted in a single action that you or any of your cronies have taken in dismantling the Tribune Co. So stop fucking call me your partner. It's patronizing. It's demeaning. And it's wrong.

Then there's the language of the actual press release. The lawsuit is filled with "frivolous and unfounded allegations." Yet Zell mentions not a one. And then he declares himself "outraged."I don't honestly know where this lawsuit will lead. And I fear that, like most lawsuits, it will be two, three, four years before we find out, by which time Sam will have looted the pension, driven off or fired the best workers and turned the Tribune Company into a television network featuring Bozo 90210 and a few newsletter-sized newspapers.

But I do know who should be outraged. And I know it's not Sam Zell.The attorneys response to Zell, in a similar vein, follows in his email to Tribune employees earlier today, Sam Zell dismissed the allegations against him and his co-fiduciaries as “frivolous and unnecessary.”
“We are partners,” the email continued, “we need to act like it.”This statement is a standard Zell response: lacking in specifics and filled with vitriol. The complaint is detailed and the allegations are correct. The complaint asserts that the Tribune ESOP has not provided the rank and file employees with a detailed justification for the Zell acquisition. Ask Sam: where’s the detailed justification? The Tribune pension administrators have not provided the retired Tribune employees with an explanation as to why the pension plan was supposedly over funded by $400 million. This explanation is particularly necessary given the current downturn in the stock market. Ask Sam: where’s the explanation?

The directors have established a conflict of interest policy for related party transactions. Ask Sam: explain how the conflict of interest policy has been followed with HIS relatives?The current and former Tribune employees are not “all in this together” with Sam Zell. The rank and file employees have their jobs and their current and future retirement plans tied up by the machinations of Zell and his co-fiduciaries. Their salaries are low and they see many of their colleagues being let go on a monthly basis. On the other hand, Sam Zell has billions of dollars and does not have his livelihood at stake. For example, Zell’s upcoming birthday party will feature The Eagles. Ask Sam: how many of his “partners” are spending their birthdays in a similar fashion?

Speaking of “maligning the company in public,” we ask that journalists covering this story consider Sam Zell’s prior comments denigrating print journalism. Imagine if the Chairman of Procter & Gamble stated: “I don’t use Ivory Soap. I hate Ivory Soap.” Despite it all, these newspapers are continuing to produce great journalism.Zell’s comments fail to acknowledge the billions of dollars in debt he caused the Tribune Company to incur, necessitating both the layoffs and the diminishing content of the Company’s newspapers. It is unfortunate that, in typical fashion, Sam Zell is ignoring the rights and neglecting the best interests of the hard-working Tribune employees, whom he cynically refers to as “partners.” Rather than working with his “partners,” he is tearing the company down, brick by brick, and selling it off, in an effort to pay down the massive debt he improperly encumbered the company with.

We look forward to cutting through Zell’s self-serving, out of touch rhetoric and fighting for our clients – the Tribune’s real and rightful owners – in court.In these turbulent times, fiduciaries must act in the best interests of their employees, particularly when they are the “owners” of the company. Zell and his co-fiduciaries have utterly failed to do so as more specifically described in the complaint.
"Partners don’t treat partners like Zell treats the Tribune employees".
(end of post)

Where have you gone inkstained wretch? Your wisdom is greatly missed by all!

Recent Severance Negotiations Update

On February 7, 2009, members of GCC/IBT Local 140-N held a Special Meeting to discuss Severance Negotiations with L.A. Times representatives which took place on February 4, 5 and 6, specifically the company's severance package offer.

As we discussed at our Special Union Meeting, and in compliance with the wishes of the membership, the negotiation committee rejected the company's proposal containing two severance options. The second option contained language in which the company sought to have any grievances and board charges withdrawn in order to recieve an additional 4 weeks of severance.

We did make two seperate proposals (below) which sought at least what the non bargaining unit employees are planned to recieve. In addition to equal severance, we proposed recall rights for 24 months in the event that the company enters into any Joint Operating Agreements (JOA's) or Merger Agreements.

In summary, the company's position was not to respond to either proposal we presented and went on to say that they felt their proposal was fair and there was only room for them to "tweak" it slightly.

We twice requested Mediation from the The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which is part of the Federal Government to help mediate the negotiations to which the company refused both times.

When asked about why they weren't willing to treat all of their employees fairly, their response was, they felt that they were.

The following are the two proposals we gave the company on Wednesday.

2009 Severance Proposal 2-25

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work Other gcc/ibt l.a. times

Last Proposal by the Union.

La Times Union Proposal 2-25-09

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work Philosophy gcc/ibt l.a. times

We are exploring our options and next move.

President
Pineda

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: LA Times Response To Pressman's Protest

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: LA Times Response To Pressman's Protest#links

The Times' Vice President of Communications Nancy Sullivan
Re; Monday's union protest:

Unfortunately, like other newspaper companies, the Los Angeles Times is not immune from the pressures of this difficult economy. Consequently, tough decisions were made that included reducing its workforce across the entire company, including the pressroom. From the onset, The Times has respected the pressmen's right to organize. In fact, despite this very difficult economy The Times and the union reached a 3-year contract agreement in December 2008 that was ratified by the employees. The company's actions have been completely in compliance with the contract.
(end)

GCC/IBTLocal 140-N
President's Response

In these economic times, is it fair to offer pressroom employees a severance package substantially less than non-union employees just because we organized and ratified a contract? The contract states that the company can fashion severance for our members, so why is it being fashioned far less than ALL other employees being laid off? Because were union? The Times could give our members the same as the non-union employees, actually, they could give more if they wanted to! How does that respect our rights to organize Nancy?

The Los Angeles Times has NEVER respected our right to organize! And it is obvious by the numerous changes our shops have undergone since ratification. Prior to organizing, the company had the right to make these same exact changes to our operation, but they didn't, and there is only one reason why they did after ratification. The contract didn't change anything because they had the right to do these things all along, but they didn't and they don't have to now. These are all calculated moves by the company and another example of how the company continues to employ union busting techniques and coerces employees into blaming the union. How does that respect our rights Nancy?

We were subjected to union-busting throughout the organizing process. The Times has ALWAYS hired union busters to help trample all over our right to organize! Our former SVP admitted in an anti-union meeting that "third party Attorneys were used, all the while referring to the Teamsters as a third party. The services they provide are used to dissuade employees from voting in favor of representation. On company time, we were corralled into captive audience meetings and continuously given anti-union propaganda literature that was intended to induce fear, focusing on strikes, violence and intimidation. How does that respect our rights Nancy?

We have endured union-busting tactics during negotiations as well. Attempts to change working conditions, refusing to assist employees in need by telling them, "go talk to the union" and also by teaching supervision union busting techniques to dissuade employees from organizing taught to them in union busting classes by union-busting Attorneys. How does that respect our rights Nancy?

Management has exploited the contract language with the intent of making employees regret organizing our shops. Their goal is to cause pressroom employees to blame the union for all that is now wrong in our shops. We did not make or negotiate these changes nor would we agree to the changes, for they were not specifically discussed in negotiations. Alot was not discussed in negotiations when management abruptly presented their "Best Offer" The bankruptcy notification had a major influence in many voters decision to ratify. Had we not ratified this contract, the bankruptcy would have allowed the company to rape us further with absolutely no defense. How does that respect our rights Nancy?

The company is using their management rights in an abusive fashion and continually says "You wanted a contract". How is that respecting our rights Nancy?

The 63 employees targeted for layoff have approximately 1510 combined years of "Company"service with an average of 23.92 years per employee and almost 1000 years of pressroom service, with an average of 15.46 years!
(statistics courtesy of Operator Steve Grant)

With all these years of service, the company chooses to ignore the contributions we have made to the production of this newspaper. We spent practically every Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July and many other holidays and family events spanning 3 decades to get a quality newspaper in the hands of subscribers and advertisers yet we don't deserve a comparable severance package. How does that respect our rights Nancy?

The Times should be embarrassed for ignoring that dedication and commitment to this company? Has the company really respected our right to organize? NO Nancy, because we chose to organize and won. That did not sit well with Newton and Walker and they have both taken it personal. In thirty years at the Times, I have never worked for such arrogant, abusive, and spiteful individuals. It is impossible for these two to views their subordinates as human beings because they don't respect us as human beings. Cruelty seems to be included in their daily diet based on the way they choose to interact with their union employees.

In these economic times more workers are seeking representation to protect their interest in the work place and to insure fair and equal treatment from their employers.
This company is historically known for it's anti-union sentiment and it continues to exhibit that philosophy in both our shops and in severance negotiations. We can all benefit from a cohesive labor/management relationship, but management chooses to operate from a position of power, rather that one of mutual interest. That ignorant position is making it even more of a stressful, hostile and extremely unsafe work environment.

What is the reason we are being offered less severance? The contract doesn't say they can't give equal severance to our members. All laid off employees deserve equivalent severance regardless of whether their union or not. We have to go through protracted negotiations for equal severance, simply because we organized and the company does not, nor have they ever respected our rights, Nancy.

Management, supervision and you, as spokesperson can deny all you want, but the fact is we are being punished for exercising our federally protected right to form a union.
Retaliation began immediately upon ratification and it will continue as long as Publisher Hartenstein fails to investigate and correct the unfair treatment of our members.

Stop the retaliation and punishment and resolve our disputes in a harmonious fashion as we agreed to in the contract and we won't be compelled to file grievances or board charges. Management wants us to abide by the contract, yet when they don't.
How does that respect our rights Nancy?

Your sterile response should be ignored and I'm sure it already has been, because you personally have absolutely no idea what we have gone through over the last decade, specifically the last 4 years in order to succeed in organizing. Nor do you know or understand what we continue to go through at the hands of SVP Newton and L.A. pressroom Superintendent Walker, so in my opinion, you are far from qualified to respond to our Rally.

End Of Rant!

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

Monday's Rally

Monday's Rally was very inspiring and it was a great example of solidarity as we marched side by side with brothers and sisters from GCC/IBT Local 404, Teamsters Local 396, Iron Workers Local 416 and members of the SEIU. Unions have united across labor affiliations understanding that supporting each others issues only stregthens the labor movement as a whole.

I received several messages from T.V. News agencies stating that there was some confusion regarding the time of our rally. Our literature clearly stated that we were to begin at 11:00am, but they weren't sure if it was at 11:00 am or at 1:00pm. We have no idea how the media was mislead, but we have some suspicions. We intend to investigate how this confusion by the media occured and whether any foul play was involved.

There were several web-based news agencies that did report on the rally and those stories and additional photos can be found on Ed Padgett's blog and these links:

http://www.edpadgett.com/ -Ed Padgett
The pressmen (and women) protest - Gary Scott

Protest 4 LA Times Press People - Witness LA
Pressmen Protest At The LA Times - Pandora

Los Angeles Times Pressmen Protest Cuts - Blog Downtown

Teamster Joint Counsel Speaker.

Every effort to have local politicians join us on the street was overshadowed by the current stimulus package and their efforts to get those dollars into the Los Angeles economy and they were committed to that process just across the street from our rally. It is my understanding that we do have their support for what is happening not only to our shops, but the newspaper as a whole. We will continue to call on them for support and hope to utilize their offices to improve the working conditions for not only our bargaining unit, but all L.A. Times Employees.

Our Attorney, Ira Gottlieb addresses the crowd highlighting the unfair treatment of our members. Ira also listed the board charges and grievances that we have filed with management and the N.L.R.B. To Ira's right in the photo is GCC/IBT Local 404m President Doug Brown. President Brown and the members of Local 404 have responded to every request for help, and this time was no different.

Teamster Executive Board Member and Western Region Organizer, Manny Valenzuela addressed the crowd emphasising the importance of standing together against workplace injustice and encouraged everyone to remain strong and united.

Our rally was an important beginning in raising awareness for equality and fairness. It's intent was to deliver the message that, first, we are not alone, second, we will stand up for workplace justice and third and most important........

WE WILL BE BACK!

Photos courtesy of Victor Banuelos