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GUILDNEWS PUBLICATION Guild news, Vol. 43-4
Executive officer praises ‘intense professionalism’ of members In his almost 14 years as executive officer of the San Jose Newspaper Guild, Luther Jackson has been in awe at how good the members of his union have been. With the merger of the San Jose Guild and Northern California Guild on Jan. 1, Jackson will be leaving his post. His last day will be Jan. 31. Guild news, Vol. 43-4 Northern California, San Jose units will merge Founded in April 1937 when the Santa Clara Valley was best known for fruit orchards instead of computers, the San Jose Newspaper Guild grew up with this economically vibrant region to become a leading voice for fostering worker rights and promoting social justice. Guild news, Vol. 43-4 1937 – Local 98 is born April 18 with a membership of 25. Stan Waldorf, city editor of the San Jose News, elected first Guild news, Vol. 43-4 Officers, R.A. members elected in San Jose, Monterey The San Jose Mercury News unit of the soon-to-be California Media Workers local elected its officers and representatives to the Representative Assembly at an election Dec. 12. The Monterey County Herald unit also picked officers and its RA members in a mail-in vote. Guild news, Vol. 43-4 An arbitrator has ruled that the Mercury News violated the Guild contract when it laid off a features writer in 2007. Sara Adler said that the company’s evaluation process, in some instances, was inconsistent with the contract in Article XIV, section (j) 1 and with the annual “PDP” evaluations. Guild news, Vol. 43-3 San Jose members will vote on merger of locals Faced with the opportunity to create a more potent Bay Area union presence and the challenge of declining dues revenue, the San Jose and Northern California Guild locals are asking their memberships to approve a merger of the two organizations. Guild news, Vol. 43-3
Laid-off reporter works hard to find new job at union Let's be honest. For those who've ever worked for a newspaper, there is no high quite like seeing an article you wrote, or a headline you designed, gracing the front page. The first time your baby smiled? A close runner-up. Guild news, Vol. 43-3 Monterey Guild employees achieve a three-year contract After working without a contract since Nov. 16, 2007, members of the Newspaper Guild in Monterey ratified a new contract in late July. The agreement will extend until Nov. 16, 2010. Guild news, Vol. 43-3 Local newsletter wins more awards at 70th annual CWA convention The Guild news, the quarterly newsletter of the San Jose Newspaper Guild, won three awards at the Communications Workers of America print communications contest in June. Guild news, Vol. 43-3 As of press time, the Guild is awaiting a decision regarding the union’s claim that the Mercury News violated the contract when it laid off a features reporter last year. Guild news, Vol. 43-2 Mediator possible if early S. J. contract talks start Officials from the San Jose Mercury News said that they would consider bringing in a federal mediator to work with the San Jose Guild and the newspaper if the two enter into early negotiations. The newspaper is asking the union to open negotiations on a new contract early, pointing to the deteriorating economic situation facing newspapers. Guild news, Vol. 43-2 BANG-East Bay says yes to union A majority of newsroom workers of the Bay Area News Group-East Bay voted June 13 to affiliate with the Northern California Media Workers Guild so that they can bargain for wages, benefits and working conditions. The secret vote was the culmination of a nine-month organizing drive, one of the most-watched union drives in the newspaper industry in recent history. Guild news, Vol. 43-2
Tour through New Zealand wows veteran bicyclist I’ve been home two months, yet the memories of New Zealand are still fresh in my mind. This was my first overseas bicycle tour and longest time ever away from home. It was a thrilling and fun experience – the thrills coming from an evil invention called the traffic circle and trusting my folding travel bike (BikeFriday) to see me through all the unknown trials ahead. Despite a doubting trip leader, both the rider and bike proved up to the task. Guild news, Vol. 43-2 Training aids laid-off journalist For any journalist being laid off these days, it can be a wonderful opportunity. That’s how I looked at it when I left the San Jose Mercury News in July. After a bit of a sabbatical and a brief stint at Yahoo, I decided to investigate state-funded training. Guild news, Vol. 43-2
Scholarship winner an aficionado of roller coasters Lisa Marie Lahman, 20, a junior at Santa Clara University studying mechanical engineering, is the San Jose Newspaper Guild’s 2008 scholarship winner. She topped an impressive field of applicants this year to win the $500 award. Guild news, Vol. 43-2 Father of San Jose Guild executive officer dies Luther Porter Jackson Jr., the father of Luther Jackson III, executive officer of the San Jose Newspaper Guild, died April 22 at age 83. He was one of the first African-American journalists at the Washington Post and he served as professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism until he retired in 1992. Guild news, Vol. 43-2 After four days of arbitration hearings, the San Jose Guild and San Jose Mercury News have submitted written briefs in the case of a features writer who was laid off in July 2007. Citing contract Article XIV, section (j) 1 (Page 23), the union said that the company did not give due – or fair and objective – consideration to the writer’s job performance and career potential at the time of the layoff. Guild news, Vol. 43-1 MediaNews takes another whack at Mercury News Giving fresh meaning to the word "decimation," the San Jose Mercury News laid off another round of employees March 7. Fifty people left the newspaper, 31 of them Guild layoffs, three non-Guild layoffs, and 16 buyouts and resignations. Guild news, Vol. 43-1
'The future of the newsroom' leaves a lot to be desired, panel says As the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, there are many print journalists who are wondering if the newspaper newsroom has any future – or a future they want to be a part of. Guild news, Vol. 43-1 Three rounds of layoffs in 15 months have hit the San Jose Mercury News. The Monterey County Herald has also suffered recent layoffs and firings. In order to help laid-off Merc and Herald employees through the difficult transition to another job, the Newspaper Guild Member Emergency Fund has been established. Guild news, Vol. 43-1 Negotiators from the Monterey County Herald proposed a new system of scale minimums for outside advertising salespersons at a bargaining session March 11 in Monterey. The proposed system would replace the current commission-only program for all outside salespeople and telemarketers. The proposal would establish base minimum scales ranging from $45,000 to $65,000 a year depending on experience. Commissions and bonuses would still be paid for meeting goals and other achievements. Guild news, Vol. 43-1 30 scholarships available for high school graduates Thirty partial college scholarships of up to $3,000 each will be awarded for the 2008-2009 school year by the Communications Workers of America. Guild news, Vol. 43-1 An arbitrator has heard three days of testimony in a Guild grievance to win back the job of a laid-off features reporter. A fourth hearing date has been set for April 2. The union contends that the Mercury News failed to give "due consideration" to factors regarding the reporter’s work performance. The layoff took place in July 2007. Guild news, Vol. 42-4 Long-distance hiker turns into an author Newspaper journalists who have covered a major event often take six months leave to write a book about it. I had to be different. I took six months off work in 2004, hiked the Pacific Crest Trail with my husband, Gary Chambers, and daughter, Mary Chambers, and only then decided to write my book, "Zero Days: The Real Life Adventure of Captain Bligh, Nellie Bly, and 10-year-old Scrambler on the Pacific Crest Trail." Guild news, Vol. 42-4
Challenging year ahead for Guild With the new year upon us, it seems time to lay out the Guild's direction for 2008. And that direction is forward, full stream ahead. Guild news, Vol. 42-4
Bill Ernst, four-time president of the San Jose Newspaper Guild and recipient of the local's Frank Rene Sauliere Award, died Nov. 21 after a long illness. He was 82. Guild news, Vol. 42-4 Contract talks commence in Monterey; more layoffs in San Jose Guild negotiators are pushing a progressive worker-focused agenda in negotiations with the Monterey County Herald. Talks began Nov. 12 to replace the existing contract that expired Nov. 16. All contract terms and conditions remain in force thanks to an evergreen provision. Guild news, Vol. 42-4 Hearings involve firing, two layoffs at newspapers The Guild will be taking at least a couple of Mercury News layoff-related grievances to binding arbitration in the next few months. Guild news, Vol. 42-4 Calvert's Katrina story wins best feature award A story written by Lou Calvert, which originally ran in the December 2005 issue of the Guild news, won a best feature story award for the national Guild Reporter at a 2007 awards competition sponsored by the International Labor Communications Association. Guild news, Vol. 42-3 Union will fight several layoff decisions As the shock begins to wear off from the latest round of San Jose Mercury News layoffs, the Guild is preparing to fight some of the job cut decisions while continuing to assist former employees establish new careers. Guild news, Vol. 42-3 The Monterey unit has elected a bargaining team to begin talks on a new contract at the Monterey County Herald. Guild news, Vol. 42-3 Being smart means helping union organize and communicate The contract: One year and counting.Contract? Didn't we just sign one? Guild news, Vol. 42-3
Longtime Guild leader in San Jose retires After working more than 20 years in the classified advertising department at the San Jose Mercury News and serving in several capacities in the San Jose Guild, Dennis Uyeno has retired. Guild news, Vol. 42-2 The Newspaper Guild Member Emergency Fund After the July 2 layoffs, the financial need our our colleagues has increased. Guild news, Vol. 42-2 Eight workers from several departments at the Monterey County Herald were laid off April 30, five percent of the daily’s workforce. Four of them were Guild members. Guild news, Vol. 42-2
Palo Alto High graduate wins Guild scholarship Laura Krieger, 18, a recent graduate of Palo Alto High School, is the San Jose Newspaper Guild’s 2007 scholarship winner. She will receive $500 toward her studies at Duke University, Durham, N.C., in the fall. Guild news, Vol. 42-2 The future of metropolitan newspapers? "The nation needs them, and I think they will survive. But overall, the major corporate-owned newspapers, the people who run them have lost track of what readers want. Guild news, Vol. 42-2 A rough 18 months for San Jose Guild members Say yes to the future. Guild news, Vol. 42-2
Mercury News employees absorb a deadly blow The San Jose Mercury News was dealt another body blow July 2. Thirty-one newsroom employees were laid off that day, in addition to the 15 people who left the newspaper voluntarily the previous month. This summer's exodus came only seven months after another 35 Merc employees were laid off in early December. Guild news, Vol. 42-1 Guild emergency fund gets unexpected assistance Responding generously to December’s layoffs, 99 Guild members at the San Jose Mercury News and others have contributed $15,469.50 to the Guild’s emergency fund for laid-off Mercury News employees. Guild news, Vol. 42-1
Bartindale receives Frank Rene Sauliere Award Becky Bartindale, a 13-year member of the San Jose Newspaper Guild and president from mid-2005 to December 2006, recently became the recipient of the Frank Rene Sauliere Award, the highest honor the local can bestow on one of its members for outstanding Guild service. Guild news, Vol. 42-1 New people fill top positions at San Jose Guild Members of the San Jose Newspaper Guild elected new leaders for its top two positions during elections held Dec. 29. Sylvia Ulloa is the new president and Lilia Valencia the new vice president. Jack Davis was re-elected as secretary-treasurer. Guild news, Vol. 42-1 The Guild is fighting the 28 Mercury News layoffs because the paper’s methods were subjective and did not give fair consideration to the criteria discussed in Article XIV of the union contract. Guild news, Vol. 41-4 Victims of December layoffs tell their stories Christmas wasn't merry and New Year's very happy for San Jose Mercury News employees laid off Dec. 4-5. Guild news, Vol. 41-4 Round-the-clock, 20-hour talks produce agreement After two months of frustrating contract negotiations, we had reached the Mercury News’ arbitrary deadline: If the Guild didn’t accept the company’s take-it-or-leave-it deal by Nov. 30, as many as 69 Guild positions would be laid off to achieve part of the $7 million a year in savings MediaNews said it was seeking over the next few years. Guild news, Vol. 41-4 San Jose Guild ratifies 'the best deal we could get' Members of the San Jose Newspaper Guild ratified a new contract Dec. 17 designed to protect Guild jobs and the quality of the Mercury News, though it comes at a significant price in the pocketbook. Guild news, Vol.41-3 MN contract proposal would gut union protections The Guild and Mercury News opened negotiations Sept. 21 with sharply contrasting agendas. The union's priorities -- including wage increases and pension and health insurance improvements -- are designed to maintain the quality of the Mercury News. Guild news, Vol.41-3 New officers take the reins at San Jose unit Since the summer of last year, all three of the officers for the San Jose Newspaper Guild are new. Guild news, Vol.41-3
Clustering is a ticking bomb for Guild employees Who are the people behind the bylines in the Mercury News? Guild news, Vol.41-3 Jurisdiction issues spark disputes What is the contractual role of San Jose Guild members within the expansive MediaNews Bay Area empire? Guild news, Vol.41-3 The San Jose Guild's quarterly newsletter, the Guild News, was awarded first place for general excellence in the Communications Workers of America annual newsletter contest. The award was presented at the CWA convention in July. Guild news, Vol.41-2
Monterey unit wins extension of contract The membership of the Monterey County Herald Guild unit this month approved an extension of its contract with Knight Ridder through Nov. 16, 2007. Guild news, Vol.41-2 Mercury News rejects contract offer from the Guild Negotiators with the San Jose Mercury News have rejected an offer from the Guild to extend the current contract for one year. The rejection on June 15 came despite the union's winning a one-year contract extension with the Monterey County Herald earlier in the month. Guild news, Vol.41-2
Book: 'I wish I knew when I was 20 what I know now' A reporter for the San Jose Mercury and the San Jose News in the late 1970s, George Newman stood at Ed Pope's desk waiting to ask a question. Guild news, Vol.41-2 1959 saw only strike at Mercury, News It was 47 years ago June 18, my birthday, that the only newspaper strike in San Jose's history ended. For four months, neither the San Jose Mercury nor the San Jose News published. Guild news, Vol.41-2
Watsonville High graduate winner of Guild college scholarship Katelyn Gagne, 18, a recent graduate of Watsonville High School, is the San Jose Newspaper Guild's 2006 college scholarship winner. She will receive $500 to pursue studies at San Diego State University this fall. Guild news, Vol.41-1
MN employees launch worker-friendly idea Imagine working for a newspaper owned by employees and run by managers who are collaborative, innovative, understand business and care about good journalism. We did. This is the story of how a group of employees at the San Jose Mercury News launched an effort to buy 12 Knight Ridder newspapers. Guild news, Vol.41-1 Fate of newspapers in the balance Employees at the San Jose Mercury News and Monterey County Herald, union and non-union alike, continued to wait with uncertainty to see what will happen to their newspapers and their jobs after Knight Ridder was bought by McClatchy. Guild news, Vol.41-1
Longtime reporter retires after 44 years at the Merc When a gallon of gasoline and a loaf of bread were 25 cents and Harry Truman was president, a recent University of California-Berkeley graduate named Betty Barnacle sought a job at a newspaper in San Francisco where she was born and grew up. At a time when few women worked as reporters and editors at American newspapers and magazines, Betty didn't have any success in her search. Guild news, Vol.41-1
Wanted: energy, ideas and leadership For those who are curious about our uncertain future, Knight Ridder offered some clues in its advice to potential buyers on how to increase profits by reducing costs. Guild news, Vol.41-1 While the Knight Ridder sale uncertainty has led to a reduction in grievances, there is significant news to report on the arbitration front. Guild news, Vol.40-3
Retired Guild member comes to aid of Katrina survivors There's an old saying: "Retired -- twice the time, half the money." But half the money (pension + Social Security + a meager distribution from my 2001 incentive buyout) is enough to allow me to do really cool things. Such as be a Red Cross volunteer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Aug. 30's Mercury News was filled with stories about the incredible destruction that Katrina had wrought in the Gulf Coast. One story told of the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the American Red Cross marshaling people to go there with helping hands. Guild news, Vol.40-3 Anti-union Proposition 75 defeated For the second time in seven years, California voters rejected an attempt to muzzle the state's union members. Proposition 75, which would have mandated public employee unions to get written permission from members before using union money for political purposes, lost 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent Nov. 8. Guild news, Vol.40-3 Don't be a spectator at this time of need Between Knight Ridder's job-cutting and the prospect of the company's sale, it's been an uneasy time of learning to live with ambiguity. Guild news, Vol.40-3 Election looms as Guild heads into uncertain year Faced with employee reductions, the demand by some stockholders to sell the newspaper chain and the expiration of both the Mercury News and Monterey Herald contracts, Guild members will be voting for local and unit offices in the local's annual election. Guild news, Vol.40-2
Guild news wins CWA's top prize
For the second time in recent years, the Communications Workers of America has awarded our Guild news the top prize for its category in the annual newsletter competition. An independent team of judges called our paper: "a strong, well-written publication that is very focused on hard news. The Guild news has direct relevance to the membership with its emphasis on contractual and bargaining issues and regular member-focused features. Consistent layout style adds to a strong publication." Congratulations to former editor Joan Bazar and to all contributors. (Joan retired earlier this year and was replaced by Stewart Applin) The newsletter contest pitted the Guild news against other publications from similar-sized CWA locals Guild news, Vol.40-2 It's deja vu all over again. In 1998, Proposition 226 was on the California ballot, a measure requiring unions to get permission of each member to use union money for political purposes. Initially favored by 71 percent of voters polled, the measure lost 53-47 after an aggressive campaign by unions. Guild news, Vol.40-2 Monterey contract negotiations Negotiations between the Guild and the Monterey County Herald will begin in a few weeks as the Guild's contract nears its November expiration. Pay and benefit issues top the list of employee concerns. Guild news, Vol.40-2 Mercury News strategy: This is what I saw during bargaining: a company that wouldn't negotiate. It was like walking into the theater for the last 10 minutes of the movie, when the truth is revealed. I arrived late to the show after Guild President Lynne Dennis resigned the Sunday before the final week of bargaining. As vice president, I stepped in, my first time at the table. Guild news, Vol.40-2 Dispute over non-union workers settled The grievance committee achieved one major settlement and continues to seek solutions in a dispute over the handling of leaves of absence. Guild news, Vol.40-2 Early bargaining on new The early contract negotiations that the Mercury News launched with the San Jose Guild turned out to be nothing but a sham. Guild news, Vol. 40-1 Several arbitration hearings In addition to early negotiations and addressing changes in members' health care coverage, the Guild has also had its hands full with a number of grievances and pending arbitrations at the Mercury News. The following grievances are currently scheduled for binding arbitration: Guild news, Vol. 40-1 Griff Palmer takes over The new secretary-treasurer of the San Jose Newspaper Guild is Griff Palmer. An Oklahoma native, he joined the Mercury News staff in the summer of 2000 as a database editor after a 22-year newspaper career in Oklahoma. He spent 19 years working for the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, beginning in 1981. He was a reporter for seven years and an assistant city editor for five years before persuading the Oklahoman to create a database editor position and put him in that post. Guild news, Vol. 40-1 Two are awarded Guild Molly Fischer, 18, a recent graduate of Castilleja School in Palo Alto, and Lorraine Ferguson, 27, who just finished her studies at the two-year Chabot College in Hayward, are the San Jose Newspaper Guild's 2005 scholarship winners. They will each receive $500. Guild news, Vol. 40-1 Guild health care and pension proposals After an initial flurry of activity at the end of 2004 and the first couple of months this year, Guild early bargaining with the Mercury News over health care and pension has ground to a halt. Guild news, Vol. 40-1 After-hour rights of Are journalists and other newspaper workers entitled to a private life? Linda Foley, president of the Newspaper Guild, thinks so. "We will continue to vigorously enforce our members' rights to participate in activities on their own time," she said in a memo to delegates to the Guild conference held May 4-8 in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Guild news, Vol. 40-1 Early bargaining slows The early negotiations that Guild leaders hoped would reach agreement on a contract extension with the Mercury News and stave off threats to the Guild's health and pension plans appear to be dead in the water--at least for now. Guild news, Vol. 39-4 Dennis, Bartindale, Palmer Guild members face a choice in the upcoming union local election race for delegate to the Western District Council meetings. Guild news, Vol. 39-4 These are confusing, maddening times at the Mercury News, especially for those of you with spouses who have inferior or exorbitant health-insurance plans, and for those part-timers who need a PPO plan for compelling medical reasons. Guild news, Vol. 39-4 Bargaining continues over health care The Guild and Mercury News remained at loggerheads in negotiations over key elements of a health insurance plan that would replace the current arrangement with San Francisco in January 2005. Guild news, Vol. 39-4 Readers, friends cheer "Overwhelming" was the reaction, San Jose Mercury News graphic designer Becky Hall said. Readers were captivated by the first-person story written by Becky and reporter Mark Emmons on the front page of the Sunday Style section Nov. 14 Guild news, Vol. 39-4 Trek ends well despite bears, shin splints, snow I couldn't have written a better ending if I'd tried. The final week of my family's effort to complete the Pacific Crest Trail featured high winds, deep snow, threatened storms and two failed attempts to cross a pass only 30 miles from the Canadian border. Guild news, Vol. 39-4 Western District Guild activists trade Western District Council (WDC) meetings are a great place for Guild leaders to get together to share problems and experiences, get ideas and help in solving their problems. |
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