Support From Local 406 Newsday

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT NEWSDAY. SPECIAL THANKS TO MIKE, LOUIE, ZACH, DARREN AND PRESIDENT GRABHORN. GREAT PICTURE DAVE!

Barack Obama addresses Teamsters Unity Conference

For the record, I did not attend this conference.

June 16th & 17 Negotiations Update

As expected, the company representatives immediately expressed their concern over our decision to communicate with our advertisers. The exchange did get pretty heated with both sides defending their positions. They are aware of our rights under the NLRA and also realize we were within our rights in doing so.

Naturally we expected some criticism for this decision, but those who support our effort to negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement understood that there is only one way to get management's attention, and that is financially.
It works on all of us, hit our wallet and they've got our attention too!

Money was the only thing Tribune valued, not the name "Los Angeles Times" nor the newspaper it proudly sits on the masthead of, or it's employees for that matter; not to mention the city and surrounding counties it serves. Zell is no different. Zell wants to make money, not lose money, so whether you agreed or disagreed with contacting the advertisers, we believe we received the response we were hoping for at the table. We did not ask any advertiser to cancel their ads, but those advertisers that did contact the Times obviously raised the concerns of Management.

None of us honestly wants to hurt the company and actually want to help build circulation and advertising within the labor community which we will when we negotiate a contract that a majority of you will ratify. As Marty stated in his letter to all of you, there are tens of thousands of union workers in and around Los Angeles and we can appeal to them for their support. They will respond, I guarantee!

We introduced language to get the negotiations on track and create a productive platform for negotiations which management agreed to the concept and counter proposed a condensed version with the same underlying objectives. We will review their counter proposal also to insure that it's language is unambiguous and is mutually understood before we tentatively agree to it.

The overall tone of this round of negotiations, albeit, started very confrontational, with our representative Sonny Shannon accusing the company of bargaining from a position of power, rather than from one of mutual interest, leveled off and we finally felt we were able to actually negotiate with the company.

We did discuss parking, lockers, security cameras and no-strike, no lock-out language and there is a good possibility we can get agreements on these what appear to be simple issues when we resume negotiations in July. The fact is there are no simple issues when it comes to putting language into a contract.

In solidarity!

Happy Fathers Day to all my Brothers.

Lest we forget!

Refresher Course in Lies and Cuts!



This man is becoming more dangerous with every loan repayment that lands on his desk.Is an ESOP an ESOP when all of the "E"s are gone? Employee Class Action? HMMM? Video by Victor Banuelos

52nd Annual North American Newspaper Conference

I had the privilege of attending the 52nd Annual NANC this past week in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is an annual joint conference with delegates from both the GCC and Teamster's Newspaper, Magazine and Electronic Media. Keith Denson and I were honored to attend the 51st NANC last year in Florida and we both admit it was a very educational and eye opening experience.

During the conference Union Delegates from newspapers across the country meet to discuss the state of the newspapers they work for and the activities their Locals are involved in for their members.

Numerous workshops are held to focus on specific areas of union business. I was fortunate to be appointed to the organizing committee in which we discussed the many obstacles we face attempting to win representation and how to overcome those hurdles. Delegates from newspapers owned by Dean Singleton, Gannett, Rupert Murdoch and our very own Sam Zell participated in a very spirited discussion and I was astonished to specifically learn from each delegate that the assault on employees by their owners is more prevalent than ever imagined before.

The Employee Free Choice Act which failed to pass legislation in its maiden attempt due to an employer friendly republican senate would have allowed employees to join a union without having a secret ballot election. Employers have exploited the current election process and utilizes every anti-union, anti-employee tactic at their disposal. The EFCA would allow employees to join by simply signing a membership card. Democratic Presidential hopeful Senator, Barak Obama supports the EFCA and organized labor. Senator Obama has spoken with Teamster General President Jim Hoffa assuring him that he will be a Pro Labor President. The Teamsters support Barak Obama for President and I think we should all vote for him in November.

I was also invited by our GCC/IBT Organizer Marty Keegan to sit in on the newspaper committee with several delegates from Zell owned newspapers as well as the others I mentioned earlier. We all share the same concerns regarding the sale to our newspapers to Sam Zell and the decisions being made that affect all of our futures. The Teamsters have fought the sale of Tribune to Sam Zell from day one understanding that an ESOP without employee representation is nothing more than deceitful. Declining ad revenue, declining circulation and staffing reductions seemed to be the major subjects discussed in this committee.

There was good news regarding the GCC and an increase of 3% in membership after years of membership declines due to plant closures and consolidations. Unions across the nation are winning elections by employees seeking representation to protect their interests in their workplace. All L.A. Times employees need to consider organizing in order to have a voice considering the latest announcement to further reduce staffing at our newspaper. I'll admit, Sam said a lot of things that lead many of us to believe that he was going to do good by all of us and the paper by building it, instead he is dismantling it faster than any of us ever imagined.

I also met with our President George Tedeschi, Teamster Organizer Manny Valenzuela, GCC/IBT Organizer Marty Keegan, International Representatives Sonny Shannon and Mike Huggins to discuss our negotiations and created a plan to insure that we are given every opportunity to negotiate a fair Collective Bargaining Agreement. Those of you who attended our chapel meeting in Monrovia were made aware of options we and the Teamsters hope to utilize in an effort to raise awareness and support for our pressrooms from the community. These meetings at the conference set the groundwork for building our support base around the country and in the local public sector which is valuable in motivating the company to bargain in good faith.

I would like to thank GCC/IBT President George Tedeschi, Secretary Treasurer Bob Lacey, NANC President/Chairman Joseph Inemer, Director Joe Molinero and especially all of my brothers and sisters in the L.A. Times pressrooms for allowing me the opportunity to represent our shops at the conference, and with great humbleness, allowing me to address the body of conference delegates and deliver a report on our negotiations.

To all the brothers and sisters at the conference, thanks for supporting our shops and negotiations and especially for the wholehearted brotherhood that each and every one of you lives by, I am always inspired by all of you and your sincerity, it is contagious and I hope it spreads to our pressrooms. It was a pleasure to spend time with Lou Nicosia and Mike Laspina from Local 406, Hello to all from both of them. Thanks to President Dennis Grabhorn and everyone at Newsday for your support. Good Luck with your impending change of ownership, I can only hope that we suffer the same fate and some one who gives a damn about this city and it's newspaper gets the chance to buy us before there's nothing left. (Are you listening Geffen?) It was also a pleasure to spend time with, and to learn from the brothers and sisters I had the privilege of meeting at last years conference, and the new ones I met this year.

Negotiations will resume on Monday, June 16Th.

Its time to put up, or shut up

It sure is easy to sit on the sidelines and judge those on the battle field .I think it’s rather odd that so many have so much to say for somebody else. If the news paper would actually print stinging commentary ‘s .We still might have a worthy product .I know some employee’s are afraid of what they don’t really understand .I sit at the table, talking to people that represent the company and it scares the hell out of me .We the negotiation committee are talked down to like we are less than .We are told what we have seen isn’t true and most of all lied to when we know the truth .Now apparently we make too much with too many .To listen to the companies team we would resort back to a (sweat shop).It is time to hear from the majority .Brothers and Sisters speak up now or forever hold your peace .This country was not formed with those who watch and comment from the sidelines but from those who actively get involved in their lives.

Advertiser Letter

Dear Respected Los Angeles Times Advertiser,


We, the presspersons of the Los Angeles Times are currently in negotiations with the company to bargain a first time contract with the newspaper. We chose to be represented by the Graphic Communications Conference / International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT).

Negotiations began on November 1ST 2007 with no significant progress and as of this date, we arrived at the conclusion that the LA Times management bargaining committee has absolutely no desire to negotiate fairly with its workers and our union.

We understand that all newspapers are currently struggling in this economic environment, but so are its workers. This newspaper continues to generate a profit, yet we gave concessions in the range of 1.8 million dollars last month. We do care about the LA Times and our ability to produce one of the finest newspapers in the world for both our subscribers and advertisers.

This letter is to advise you, our advertiser, that the GCC/IBT and its members may exercise their right under the National Labor Relations Act which includes the right to handbill in front of your establishment and ask your customers not to buy your product because you advertise in the LA Times.

This is certainly not what we would prefer to do, but this is a decision that the company is forcing us employees to consider making. We want the LA Times to respect us as workers and more importantly, recognize our contribution in providing your business advertising the quality printing you and your customers deserve.

The new owner wants nothing more than for us to continue to give up wages and benefits in an effort to increase corporate profits.

GCC/IBT
Bargaining Committee

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the letter sent to over 50 local car dealerships to inform them of our efforts to negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement. Management has posted a "Negotiation Update" with this letter attached. As I stated in a previous post, our Representative Sonny Shannon ended our last negotiation session stating "we intend to increase our position at the bargaining table"
We have NOT asked our advertisers to take any form of action against the company.

The Senate stood up to Big Media

Dear Ronnie,

Just moments ago, by a near-unanimous vote, the Senate stood up to Big Media. They voted to throw out the FCC decision to let the largest media companies swallow up even more local media.

This is simply an astounding victory, and it would not have happened without the massive grassroots effort by you and thousands of others who called their senators, sent more than a quarter million letters, posted thousands of pictures and stories on StopBigMedia.com, and testified at public hearings held by the FCC.

It was your dedication that made today's Senate win possible.
Today was a huge step forward, but there is still much to do. The fight against the FCC now moves to the House, where our elected representatives need to hear from us.

President Bush has promised that he will try to veto this bill. But tonight the Senate and the American people have spoken with one voice. This historic vote sends a clear message that the only people who support more media consolidation are Big Media lobbyists and the White House.

We are in this struggle to bring more minority ownership, diverse perspectives and independent voices to the media. We need to make media consolidation an election-year issue. And we need to start talking about how to break up the giant conglomerates.

Corporate news today -- with its propaganda pundits, horse-race election coverage, and celebrity gossip -- undermines our democracy. We must continue to speak out and demand that the public airwaves be used to actually serve the public.

In just three weeks, thousands of people will be gathering together in Minnesota to build the movement for better media. You can join them at the National Conference for Media Reform, just visit www.freepress.net/conference.

For today, know that you played a key role in the fight for better media for all.

Thank you,
Josh Silver

Executive Director

Free Press Action Fund.

For those of you who joined the action committee and sent letters to your elected officials on Stop Big Media.com, know that you contributed to this decision by the senate. Hopefully this will force Sammy to Sell!

In Solidarity!

Ronnie

Postcard from The Negotiation Table

We all knew that the negotiations were going to be especially difficult during the economic downturn that newspapers are facing these days, but the reality is, we are also facing the same economic challenges.

In the last few years we have faced rising fuel prices, utilities have become more expensive and grocery prices are again escalating.

During these past years we have also $een the amount we pay for our healthcare coverage increase, (Co-Pay$ and prescriptions) while our wage$ have essentially remained the same. Tribune is self insured and has taken any annual wage increases right back, simply by increasing our benefit costs each year.

These past two days of negotiations have revealed to the negotiation committee as well as our Representatives that, the Company, by their actions, have no intention of negotiating a "FAIR" collective bargaining agreement with the pressmen and presswomen who print the Los Angeles Times.

1.8 Million apparently was not enough for these greedy parasites. We spent the last two days and numerous counter proposals attempting to reach an agreement with the Company on language pertaining to "Hours of Work" and "Overtime"

Listen to what they originally proposed, an 8 hour work day, 40 hour work week at our current weekly wage with nothing for the additional 5 hours a week (20 hours a month). At $35.00 an hour average, that amounts to $700.00 a month. They must think you are all stupid as well as overpaid.

As far as overtime, we proposed the current definition of a days work as a seven and a half (7 1/2) hours per shift, minus the half hour per shift for lunch, (37 1/2 hours per week) with overtime after the seventh hour to be paid at time and a half for the first 4 hours and double time thereafter. That's fair considering that's what we currently receive.

The company wants to invoke current California state law which requires employers to pay overtime wages after 8 hours or 40 hours a week. Simply put, you would work at straight time wages until your ninth hour is reached or you exceed 40 hours in the same work week. Any takers? HELL NO! They must think you are all stupid as well as overpaid.

Their proposals also contains language that would allow them to send you home at any time and only pay you for the time you are there. This sets the stage to turn us into part-time workers and could result in loss of benefits as well as give birth to a "two tier" wage system.

They also eluded to wage scales based on job classification. That would allow the company to create vastly different wage scales within our department and could also result in wage reductions for those whose work they deem less important or a lower skill set.

At the end of the day, we were not interested in their proposals and concluded with our International Representative, Sonny Shannon informing the company that we intend to strengthen our position at the bargaining table. More on that to come!

They must think you are all stupid as well as overpaid!

Stay tuned! In Solidarity!

Negotiation Update

Negotiations continued on Wednesday April 30th and Thursday May 1st at which time several tentative agreements were reached. As tentative agreements are reached, they will be posted here so everyone will be aware of what we are discussing at the table.

I really apologize that more has not been reported on the actual negotiations but language in our proposals as well as the company's proposals can, and do change from each proposal and counter proposal given back and forth. We have presented and received numerous proposals and are continuing to discuss language that both sides can be comfortable with and agree to.

As far as the tentative agreements we have reached, they pertain to

"Voluntary Separation Package" (for recent buy-outs)
"Recognition and Jurisdiction"
"Arbitration"
"Jury Duty"
"Funeral Leave"(packaged)
"Cafeterias"(packaged)

The "packaged" proposals were presented by the company in which they agreed to funeral leave language in exchange for an agreement giving them sole discretion regarding the cafeterias and vending machines. The cafeterias and vending machines are for the convenience of all employees and we felt that the company's decision to provide cafeteria services and vending machines, (or not), rests solely on their shoulders.

We have presented several other proposals which the company views to be restrictive and costly so they continue to seek language giving them flexibility. We are willing to create language giving them the flexibility they seek, but not at the expense of fair agreements for our bargaining unit.

We are making progress and are optimistic about future negotiations. The downside obviously is the lack of time actually spent at the table. As I stated previously, this will take time, so continue to be patient and support the committee and it's efforts to present and protect our interests.

International representative Sonny Shannon is doing an exemplary job in presenting our proposals as did Mike Huggins' and we hope to have Mike back at the table for our next scheduled negotiations.

If you have any questions, as always, I encourage you to ask any of the negotiation committee members and we will provide you with the answers you seek.

In solidarity

Tribune Tobacco Use Fee Rescinded

From: Tribune Communications
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 1:32 PM
Subject: Message from Gerry Spector/Tobacco Use Fee Rescinded

Since the closing of the going-private transaction last December, we’ve been reviewing policies and practices across the company, including Tribune’s healthcare benefits. While well-intentioned, we think the tobacco-use fee implemented by the previous management team is inconsistent with the new culture we’re developing---we’d rather you use your own judgment when it comes to tobacco use, not impose ours upon you.

This policy was a part of open enrollment last fall and took effect January 1, 2008. I’m pleased to tell you that we’re eliminating this fee effective April 28th.

If you successfully participated in the smoking cessation program, have quit and been reimbursed for all fees, then congratulations are in order. Quitting is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.

If you’re still being charged the fee, it will stop and Tribune will reimburse you 100 percent for the fees you have paid. This reimbursement will occur in late May.

Tribune will continue to offer the smoking cessation program free of charge to all employees and their covered dependents age 18 and older.

The spousal medical fee, implemented at the same time, will remain in place. We believe that if an employee’s spouse has access to coverage through his/her employer, that employer has the primary responsibility to bear the cost of coverage. Our obligation is to take care of our own employees, first and foremost.

If you have questions about the tobacco use fee, contact the Tribune Benefits Service Center at 800/872-2222.

Thanks.

Gerry

(Source: Ed Padgett's 20 year club website)

Recent Negotiations

I apologize for having not posted any information from the recent negotiations. I have spent the last few days restoring my computer once again. I apparently picked up a virus while at the negotiations location. Their server must have been spreading this virus without their knowledge.

We met on Wednesday April 16Th and 17Th for negotiations and they, in my opinion, went well. International Representative Sonny Shannon re-joined the team and did an excellent job at the table representing our interests. Attorney Dave Meyers was also present representing the Union and also did an exemplary job presenting our proposals to the company.

We did exchange several proposals and counter proposals regarding Seniority, and another proposal regarding Arbitration. We did get alot closer to language we can both agree to. We will resume negotiations on April 30Th and May 1st with several more days in May.

Patience is our greatest asset at this point. We have to keep our eye on the prize, which is a Collective Bargaining Agreement" We all have to understand that this can and will take time. The company is obiously in no hurry to give us one and hopes that we will abandon the fight. That will not happen as long as we remain diligent in our efforts and build solidarity.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

THE FIGHT FOR GOOD JOBS!

Go ask the Union.

It's been over a month since I've been able to post any information for various reasons, mostly time. I have been approached for numerous reasons and was told that management redirected them to the Union and in O.C. to me by name.

I have been told that supervision is merely following instructions. Those issues that have been brought to our attention have consumed the majority of the time I have spent since the hiatus at the bargaining table.

That's not to say that we have not discussed them with management. On our last negotiation session we agreed to address the seniority list and work with Russ to resolve any and all concerns regarding one's seniority numbers and placement on the list. On Tuesday April 8Th, Keith Denson and I met with Russ and Monica Hayes to present the names of individuals and their specific issues regarding the list and their seniority numbers.


There was a lot of names and Russ stated that he will look closely at the information we presented and hopes to have some information when we return to negotiations on the 16Th. Monica took notes and obtained a thorough explanation regarding each individuals concerns.


The list that we presented to management at the table was still error filled and I believe it may have been more erroneous than the original. In good conscience we could not go forward with that list because it would have resulted in more individuals out of order than previously. That is why we asked management to return to last years pick order until we can once and for all create a seniority list that we can all agree to. Tuesdays meeting was very productive at which time Keith and I addressed several other issues that were brought to our attention in which Russ looked into and corrected some of them as well. Not all of the concerns we sought to discuss could be raised in this meeting but instead will be raised when negotiations resume. Some issues have been resolved, and some couldn't be at this time, so status quo is recommended until an agreement or understanding otherwise.

The Buy-outs and the negotiations surrounding them were very painful and I personally detest these times. I have, along with all of you witnessed the exodus of employees from our company on many occasions and it doesn't get any easier with time. We are losing hundred of years of experience once again and relationships that will end indefinitely, that's always been the most difficult part for me personally. I do remain in contact with friends that I have met here and have since been long departed from our shops. I value those lasting friendships and I hope many of you will remain in touch with one another.

We will be back to negotiations on April 16 and 17Th, with more dates at the end of the month.
Mike Huggins is recovering from his surgery and I have sent best wishes from all of us. He is doing fine and hopes to rejoin the negotiations as quickly as possible. In his absence the International has asked International Representative Sonny Shannon to fill the void.
Sonny was originally assigned to our negotiations but fell ill himself and has since recovered and looks forward to rejoining the team.

The last thing I need to express is patience. I know that there have been situations and decisions that have been very frustrating lately but that is to be expected. That doesn't mean that they aren't being addressed, they all are. One thing I don't do is minimize any one's concerns because if it is important to you, then it is important to all of us.