I just wanted to send a note to brief everyone on a few newsroom issues.
The matter of student and regular correspondents being used after a reduction in force is headed for arbitration. No date set.
A recent story by Gina Mace on the Falls Muni Court moving to Stow has been added to a pending grievance.
A grievance has also been filed on the matter of the features dept hiring an outside correspondent to write a wine column to replace one previously done by Tricia Colliane. The opening was not posted and I'm sure you all saw that Mike Needs is the replacement columnist.
Paperwork has also been filed in the matter of artists being forced to do page layout.
Friday, Feb 9 is the date set for the next meeting with the company over the ethics policy. Yuvonne Bruce, Phil Trexler and Jim Mackinnon will join me on the negotiating team for this issue. Grievances on the above matters will be taken up on this date as well.
Several of you have approached me concerning W-2 forms. Guild dues was not reported correctly and the company has sent letters with the correct amount. Corrected W-2 forms will not be issued. I received the following from Executive Secretary Mark Davis after questing whether the company was obligated to furnish a corrected tax form. While it is incumbent upon an employer to provide a correct W-2, the reporting of union dues paid by an employee on a W-2 is not mandatory and as such I believe it is not a material mistake which would require the Employer to send out a W-2C?(corrected version). The letter of correction should be sufficent to clear up any dispute with the IRS
Those who file the long form should keep the letter for your records.
There will be an executive board and general membership meeting 7 pm Tuesday, Feb 27 at the Printers Club.
Bob DeMay
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3 comments:
Maybe this newspaper is swirling down the toilet because its employees think its a good idea to bicker about things like a reporter working another territory or a student being able to work there -- and how much they're allowed to work (unless, of course if that student is working the weekends. If it involves working weekends, let them work whenever they please!).
With the exception of a few, the people at the ABJ only seem to care about themselves and the paper's poor quality reflects that.
The company has an agreement with employees. It says it needs to reduce the work force so one-third of the newsroom is laid off. Now the company is hiring cheap help because it needs a larger work force. And the cheap help will provide a cheap newspaper--swirling down the toilet.
The paper's "poor quality" - anonymous's quote, not mine - is due more to management decision's than it has to do with 'bickering' rank and file. The best carpenter in the world can't fix a building designed by poor architects.
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