Category Archives: Layoffs/Buyouts

The company eased up on its request for an earlier deadline; so voting on whether the second-quarter furloughs should be taken is set for all day Wednesday, April 1. Please adjust your schedules accordingly and pay attention to the details in this e-mail. Our special election committee met Sunday to hash out a game plan, so here goes:

Voting will be in person at:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Downtown (Musicians Hall, 325 N Delaware St.)
• 3:15-3:45 p.m. at North Bureau in Fishers (yes, we are coming to you)
• 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Downtown (Musicians Hall)
• (Folks in the West and South zones, please come into the city and cast your ballot, and thanks for the extra effort!)

Anyone who is out of town on Wednesday can vote by e-mail (reply to this account). E-mail votes must be received by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 1. They must include a telephone number where the Guild can contact the member to verify the vote. A plus if you vote in person: You get your new 2009 Guild card before anyone else!

Remember, only dues-paying members can vote. However, anyone who is not a member can fill out the paperwork to join on-the-spot and will be allowed to vote.

Lastly: You may be asking, or thinking, about the Indy News Guild’s position on the second-quarter furloughs. In trying to conduct our version of due diligence, we’ve been given a fairly dramatic what-if scenario. What if we all vote no? The company told us in an e-mail over the weekend that they would have to cut an estimated 20 to 25 jobs out of the 204-person bargaining unit (which includes newsies and our friends in building services) to achieve their cost savings.

A majority of Guild officers — who provided NO endorsement during the vote for the first-quarter furlough back in January — now recommend a “yes” vote for round 2. It’s the best of a bad lot of options, but the one that keeps us all employed and the newspaper functioning. We all hope a cooperative spirit also will help at the bargaining table; remember, a much more heinous 15 percent wage cut is looming before us as part of contract talks that resume April 14-15. Is the company still serious about that? We’ll see. Make sure you vote and raise questions to Publisher Michael Kane during his April 2 meeting with Star employees.

On behalf of the officers and stewards and election team of Indy News Guild 34070:
Tom Spalding, president

Your Guild leadership team wanted to keep you in the loop regarding the company’s plans to implement second-quarter furloughs, a move that will impact the 200+ people in our bargaining unit.

The Guild has agreed to schedule a vote. We are currently in the process of negotiating the specific date. In a meeting on the sixth floor on Wednesday we proposed April 1, since we are legally obligated to give our parent organization, CWA/TNG, enough time (5 days) to ensure this contractual change (a pay cut) is in our best interests. The company has countered, saying it wants an answer from membership by March 30 or (and this is a direct quote from Human Resources to us, “we will proceed with layoff planning in order to achieve the full savings in the second quarter.”)

The Guild is not trying to stymie any of the company’s plans, and in fact, we have advised Dennis Ryerson that it would be a good idea for employees to start tentatively requesting their furlough days, so that supervisors can pencil in the schedules and get them implemented if the union members vote “yes.” But by threatening layoffs unless the company’s deadline was met, it effectively cut off any reasonable negotiation period … so today (Thursday) we asked the company again if they are serious about proceeding with layoffs — even if the outcome of the membership vote ends up being in favor of the second-quarter furloughs?

Additionally, here’s what the company has told us in response to costs and raises:

1. Their goal is to achieve 1.92% of straight-time payroll in our unit as a result of the furloughs. (We have asked for a specific dollar amount of savings).
2. The number of layoffs, in lieu of furlough participation, that will be required to achieve the 1.92% in savings is undetermined. This will depend on the compensation rates of the individuals selected the layoff. (We asked for specific scenarios and hard numbers).
3. Only one of our covered employees will receive a two-week furlough. All other bargaining unit members will receive a one-week furlough.
4. The company will continue to provide merit pay increases, per contract, in addition to step increases until a contract change is negotiated. (As you know, we’re in the midst of working out a new deal, with talks set to resume April 14-15.)
5. If the Guild agrees to the furlough, the company is not interested in excluding any members of our bargaining unit from participation. (We asked that employees who make $12-per hour and under be excluded from the furlough due to their particular economic situation).

The vote we’ll put before membership, as it stands now, would likely be a simple 1) YES to furlough or 2) NO to furlough. We’re still trying to figure out times and location for early next week, so keep your calendar open!

Please keep in mind that union officers, in general, support more furloughs instead of layoffs or permanent wage cuts. But we have a responsibility to make sure our members’ rights are respected and that you have enough information to make an informed vote — not a rushed vote.

E-mail us with any questions and, as always, stay informed at indynewsguild.com

Just like last time, the changes outlined in the letter today from Gannett regarding Furlough No. 2 are all things that the company would have to negotiate with the Guild as exceptions to the contract. Just like last time, the union leadership won’t act until we’ve called together the membership for discussion and a vote, plus examined our options. Just like last time, their proposal would result in a roughly 2% pay cut (depending on income). Unlike last time, if the Guild is going to agree to anything that results in a cut in income, then Guild members in Indianapolis deserve to see some major sacrifice at the corporate level, beyond what they’ve advertised today, as well as a chance to look at the books.

I likely won’t be able to have a conversation with Star management about furlough No. 2 until Tuesday at the earliest, when I return from (ironically) finishing furlough No. 1, which is today. Hang in there, everybody. We’ll continue to get, and relay to you, details and direction. I can tell you that, out of fairness, I’ll be recommending to our board that we won’t collect/deduct dues for one upcoming paycheck.

For the Guild
Tom Spalding, president
Indianapolis News Guild

• Second quarter furlough fact sheet
• Letter from Bob Dickey

Thanks to you for your phenomenal turnout Friday and today (over 77%) at our specially called, emergency meetings. After an impartial secret-ballot vote that was counted by stewards Adam Yates, Michelle Watson and Robert Annis and Guild member Amy Bartner, the Indy News Guild voted 81-9 to accept an unpaid furlough (totaling 40 hours per employee) to be scheduled and taken by the end of March. Please keep in mind that management told us they will do their best to let Guild members take that leave either in its entirety (4 or 5 whole days, depending upon shift) or one day at a time.

This has been a distasteful process, but thank you for your vote. Your sacrifice to lose a week’s pay preserved jobs — preventing an untold number of employees from being laid off.

This vote is a one-time agreement covering only the first quarter of 2009. While there are no guarantees, we hope this agreement will satisfy management’s desire to cut payroll and protect jobs.

Reminder: On Thursday, to fill a void left by former president Abe Aamidor’s layoff in December, the Guild will hold a meeting at noon to elect a president, first vice president and treasurer. Tom Spalding has agreed to run as president, Geoff Ooley as treasurer and Vic Ryckaert as first vice president. So far, no one else has stepped forward to run, although all are certainly welcome. Also, anyone interested in becoming a steward, please step forward and let us know either by e-mail or stopping by the Musicians Hall at 325 N. Delaware St. The terms of all officers, by the way, run through July 1, 2010.

—  The officers and stewards of Indianapolis News Guild Local 34070

We had a great turnout this evening regarding the furlough — over 60 voters came to the musicians hall — including five new duespayers. (Thank you!) We also motored up to the Pulliam Production Center to hold a quick vote for those folks in building services. It’s important for us, important for you, and we appreciate your commitment. One of our voters at the PPC was Donovan Bernhardt — who is learning disabled and can’t fill things out; but both his dad and his brother called in by-proxy to try to vote for him; it was that important he make his voice heard. For those that couldn’t make it to vote Friday: If you absolutely, positively CANNOT attend the second part of the vote opportunity, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. SATURDAY, then call Tom Spalding at (317) 340-7836. Otherwise the only way to vote is to do so in person. Your officers, who are all volunteers, will be there.

We’ll release results of the vote after the count sometime after 1 p.m. Saturday.

— Thanks for reading.