Holiday Wishes

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Members and Officers of GCC/IBT Local 140-N

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The company has notified the union that there have been numerous questionable events taking place in recent months that lead them to believe that there are employees possibly creating dangerous and costly downtime incidents during production.  For the record, the Union denies any such behavior.

It was brought to my attention that a reel arm bolt wrench found its way into the compactor and the wrench was propelled from the machine at a dangerous speed causing damage to the compactor, and more importantly, could have caused a serious injury, or possibly even death to employees that were in the area at the time.  No one is being accused of intentionally placing the wrench in the waste container but management does not consider this an accident.

In the name of safety and cooperation, I must remind all bargaining unit employees that the Union does not condone nor do we support any behavior that would place another employee in harms way or interferes with production. Furthermore, the Union will not defend nor represent any individual found guilty of participating in any proscribed activity.

The following language pertains to this notice and should be understood and followed.

Section 3.1. No Strike. (a) During the term of this Agreement there shall be no strikes,
sympathy strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, boycotts, intentional interruption of
production, delays or suspension of work of any nature, and no other acts that interfere
with the Company’s operations or the production or sale of its products or services by the
Union, its officers, agents or members, or by the employees. During the term of this
Agreement there shall be no lockout of any employees by the Company.


(b) The Union agrees that it will take every effort possible to discourage, prevent and
end any strike or proscribed activity and will inform all employees who participate in
such activity that it is their individual responsibility.


(c) Any or all employees participating in any such activity proscribed herein shall be
subject to disciplinary action, including discharge. In the event that a grievance is filed
with respect to activity proscribed herein, the only question before the arbitrator shall be
whether the employee engaged in such proscribed activity. If the arbitrator finds that the
employee engaged in the proscribed activity, s/he shall have no authority to rescind or
otherwise modify the discipline imposed by the Employer.


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

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Andrew Witkowski Services

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Andrew Witkowski Services

New Contract Highlights/Lowlights

1. $1000.00 signing bonus
2. 18 weeks of severance equaling approximately $20,000.00 per employee
3. Retained 5th week of Vacation for eligible presspersons
4. Maintained a 35 hour workweek, not 40 hours for same rate of pay.
5. Union Shop language, Become a member or become terminated, No more Freeriders
6. Dues to be deducted bi-weekly instead of monthly
7. Six Month Disability Job Protection, includes 12 weeks under FMLA without threat of job loss
8. "Me Too" Sick day conversion for up to 20 disability days of sick pay.
9. Improved Arbitration Language to expedite our Grievances.
10. Sick days will be paid the equivalent of 7 hours pay regardless of shift for a total of 35 hours per year.
11. Union Leave of absence for Union Officers to conduct union business
12. We now split arbitration costs instead of loser pays.
13.  Transparent vacation pick process.  

These are the changes that I consider improvements on behalf of the membership during these negotiations.

The lowlights are obvious and listed below.

1. Continued Wage freeze. Flipside, No wage concessions!
2. 8 Part-time employees. Flipside, hired from only our rank and file!
3. If Severance is accepted, Recall is waived

Compared to contracts negotiated in recent months at newspapers across the country, This current contract and the new language contained within can be considered damn good these days, whether you care to believe it or not.  Thank you Brothers Denson and Brierley for your hard and under appreciated work in negotiating these contract improvements. Thanks also to GCC/IBT International Representative Mike Huggins for your guidance and leadership at the table under very difficult bargaining circumstances. Thank you to all of the members who truly understand the situation for what it is and for your continued support. The Union gave you a voice, use it wisely and effectively, not against those that stand up for, and beside you.

You can please some of the people some of the time, but in the pressroom, you will never please all of the people at any given time. We are doing the very best we can considering we're fighting the company with one hand tied behind our back, while the other is consistently seeking the back of a fellow employee to plunge a knife into. You know who you are, sitting in our meetings like Judas at the last supper. Sad but true. Apparently some things will never change, for everyone's sake, I hope it does before this agreement expires. If you haven't read it yet, do so.

In Solidarity?

Fraternally,

Ronnie Pineda,

President,

GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Meeting Reminder

Don't forget tomorrows Ratification meeting at 1:00 pm in La Mirada at the Holiday Inn directly across from the Elephant Bar on Firestone Blvd. The address is in the previous meeting post.

I apologize that this meeting could not be postponed and it is imperative that you attend and vote.

I will explain fully and give my perspective on our current situation at tomorrow's meeting so please make every effort to attend.

Fraternally,
President
Ronnie Pineda

EMERGENCY RATIFICATION MEETING

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

International Representative, Mike Huggins notified company attorney, Amy Foran of the results of our recent ratification vote and brought our concerns and reasons for rejecting the proposed contract to her attention. Efforts were made by Rep. Huggin seeking to influence the company into at least modifying the proposed changes that would appease the members. The response was negative and we were informed that the company was not willing to change the previous offer and has now deemed the offer as their "LAST AND FINAL"

As a result, it was necessary that I call this emergency meeting to discuss the current situation and the options that were explored upon receiving the company's LAF. I will provide my perspective on the situation at the meeting and hope to have a good turnout. It is important to attend and VOTE.

The meeting will be held on Monday 12/12/2011 at the La Mirada Holiday Inn at 1:00 PM, directly across from the Elephant Bar (where we held our previous meeting) on the north side of the 5, Santa Ana Fwy, 14299 Firestone Blvd. La Mirada, Ca. 90638 the number in case you wish to call for directions is (714) 670-1685

In Solidarity,
Ronnie

Five positions available in Phoenix

I was informed this afternoon that there are up to 5 positions available if anyone is interested in relocating for work.
Please contact me, President Pineda, at (562) 884-1456 and I will provide the information to contact Christine, President of the Local in Phoenix and she can give any interested parties the full details.
Fraternally,
Ronnie

UPDATE:
Interested parties can contact Arizona Republic H.R. Rep, Scott Rollins at (602) 444-7133 for full details regarding any remaining available job openings. One of the five positions has been filled.

Ronnie

Ratification Vote Results

Local 140-N members voted against ratification of the Tentatively Agreed Contract this afternoon.
The next step will be revealed soon.
Democracy In Action!

Ratification Meeting

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A meeting has been scheduled on Monday November 21, 2011  at the Crowne Plaza Commerce Casino Hotel beginning at 1:00pm in the Diamond room on floor 1M.
All members should have received a hand delivered copy of the new contract and should take the opportunity to compare the changes.
International Representative, Mike Huggins will detail what those tentative agreements are and answer questions along with negotiating committee members Keith Denson, Mike Brierley and myself.
Bring your copy of the contract to the meeting. Contact Executive Vice President, Keith Denson or myself if you have not received yours.
The address once again is 6121 Telegraph Blvd. Commerce, Ca.
Travel safely, see you all Monday.
In Solidarity,
GCC/IBT Local 140-N
President,
Ronnie Pineda

Contract Review

Brother Ed Padgett incorrectly indicated that copies of the new T/A'd contract would be available for review and receipt from him and his blog later today. Members and members only will receive a copy in the mail to ensure that ONLY members receive the new language to consider for ratification.

If any member has changed his or her address recently, please notify Secretary Treasurer, Linard Williams or myself immediately and be sure to receive your copy.

Our ratification meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2011. Location and time to follow.

Ronnie Pineda
President,
GCC/IBT Local 140-N

Negotiations Update Meeting

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Negotiation Committee Members, Executive Vice President, Keith Denson, Executive Board Member, Mike Brierley and myself, President, Ronnie Pineda have scheduled an urgent meeting to discuss our current status in negotiations.

Monday, November 7,2011 at the Elephant Bar in La Mirada beginning at 1:00pm.
14303 Firestone Boulevard, La Mirada.

Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Fwy) Valley View exit, (North or South). The Restaurant is located on the north side of the fwy directly across from the Holiday Inn Express.

This is NOT a ratification meeting and is only for the purpose of informing Local 140-N members where we are and what comes next. A ratification meeting date will be determined at this meeting.

MEMBERS ONLY, ROLL CALL WILL BE TAKEN AND ENFORCED BY SERGEANT OF ARMS, GARY BUNCH.

Fraternally,
Ronnie Pineda
President

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.