Category Archives: Events/Meetings

The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild is reminding you to request an absentee ballot if you aren’t sure you’ll be here for the JUNE 30 vote — the vote is one week from today. [So far we’ve sent out 25!]. Wednesday June 24 is the deadline to request a ballot so you can get it in the mail to us quickly … so e-mail Tom Spalding at indystar68@yahoo.com to get yours delivered to you. We want 100% turnout. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to make your voice heard!

And for non-duespayers, this is a GREAT time to sign up. E-mail Tom at the same address.

Also: An information session is set for this Sunday, June 28, 2-4 p.m., Musicians Hall

Background, as always, on indynewsguild.com!

In solidarity, the News Guild contract team.

The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild is reminding you to request an absentee ballot if you aren’t sure you’ll be here for the JUNE 30 vote — that’s two weeks from today. [So far we’ve sent out 13]. You’ve only got a week until the deadline to request a ballot, so e-mail Tom Spalding at indystar68@yahoo.com to get yours delivered to you. We want 100% turnout. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to make your voice heard! And for non-duespayers, this is a GREAT time to sign up. E-mail Tom at the same address. In solidarity, the News Guild contract team.

The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild today officially scheduled a membership vote for Tuesday, June 30, on the company’s proposal for a two-year contract. Officers this afternoon mailed out details of the voting process to all Guild duespayers. We will be taking absentee ballots by mail, so even if you cannot be here in person you can get your say.

It’s important, as you educate yourself on the 35-page proposal over the next 2-1/2 weeks, that you understand this is entirely management’s proposal. The Guild negotiating committee mitigated several concerns, but committee members still cannot endorse this contract proposal.

You should also know that the company has told us repeatedly that if the Guild membership rejects this proposal, future company offers are not going to get any better. The Guild bargaining committee, however, believes that improvements can be made that would make the package better and more likely to be acceptable to membership, and yet still acceptable to the company. Therefore, if the membership votes “no” we stand ready to return to the bargaining table. We also have twice requested info on the company’s financial condition so that membership can make an informed decision on the financial sacrifices we are being asked to make. The company has yet to share this information. Continue reading →

Guild officers and stewards will be meeting at 12:30 p.m. this Wednesday at the Musicians Hall to pick a suitable date to hold an “information session” as well as an election. We also have to establish how we’ll mail out absentee ballots to duespayers, since the election regarding Gannett’s two-year contract offer will likely be scheduled around the busy July 4 holiday, when several people will be out of town. All Guild officers are moving as swiftly but carefully as we can, given some legal requirements and logistical hurdles. You should know that the Guild crafted and assembled a 35-page contract proposal that, as of today, is now in the company’s hands. We want to ensure there are no misunderstandings prior to a vote.

The Indy News Guild bargaining committee is returning to the table from 1 to 4 pm, May 28 (Thursday) as the company will hear us out in terms of structuring a counter proposal to their most recent offer (an offer that we ultimately rejected because of the ambiguous nature regarding ethics and advertorial). We’re meeting at the musicians hall at 11 am, and anyone who wants to sit in and listen is welcome to do so.

Over 5 weeks have passed since our last meeting with the company; we hope to find some common ground with Gannett and get a deal in front of you for a vote. We are negotiating in good faith. We’ll certainly keep you posted, and background as always is at indynewsguild.com.

Here are ways we can help you — show support by wearing your lanyards, use your guild pens, or wear anything else you have on Thursday that is BRIGHT RED. We’ve got extra pens and lanyards on Tom Spalding’s desk in the NW corner of the newsroom, help yourself.