WGAE Agrees To Sign Staff Union Contract

The WGAE staff received the following email from the new Executive Director Lowell Peterson on Friday, June 6. We are thrilled that he placed a high priority on settling this issue, and feel that it bodes well for the future.

“I am pleased to report that the WGAE Council voted yesterday to authorize me to sign the collective bargaining agreement between the WGAE and TNG Local 3. This includes the “additional” wage increase for affected employees that had been in dispute. The Council vote was unanimous.

The Council and I believe it is important to start a new era in labor-management relations at the Guild. Council members determined that, although the wage language that was in dispute was the product of an honest error, the error was ours, not TNG’s, and the time has come to move beyond it.

Although I was not here at the time, I know the bargaining process was long and difficult and generated strong feelings on both sides of the table. We are all trade unionists who are here to represent the WGAE’s members and to organize the unorganized; in that spirit, let us commit ourselves to a productive, mutually respectful relationship.”

UPDATE – TNG-WGAE CONTRACT DISPUTE

UPDATE – TNG-WGAE CONTRACT DISPUTE

TNG lawyers are reviewing language for the settlement of the contract dispute between TNG and WGAE management following mediation of the issues by representatives of the AFL-CIO on January 28, 2008. Although it is difficult to predict when agreement will be reached on the language, we expect to have more concrete information by the end of the week.

TNG all along has insisted that the WGAE sign the contract we ratified in October, but management refused, insisting it had not meant to offer the wage package that it presented as a take-it-or-leave it final offer. In an attempt to resolve the issue without resorting to all-out war, TNG and management agreed to the mediation.

TNG insists that the contract be signed and that both parties submit their disagreement over the wage package to arbitration under normal rules for such a proceeding.

TNG has reserved its right to press its position publicly if a final resolution is not signed.

We will keep you informed of further developments.

In Unity,

Elaine Lindsay, WGAE Unit Chair of the Newspaper Guild of New York

Leah Moutz, WGAE Vice Chair of the Newspaper Guild of New York

Karen Young, WGAE Secretary of the Newspaper Guild of New York

Good News: Tentative Agreement For Contract Signing

This message was sent to WGAE staff members of TNG today (Jan. 30, 2008):

Hey Guys,

Good news. There is an end in sight, or a new beginning, depending on how you want to look at it, in our struggle to have our contract signed.

As you know, there was a mediation meeting in Washington on Monday afternoon between the WGAE (Mona, Ann, and Michael Winship) and TNG President Bill O’Meara, along with high-ranking officials of the CWA and AFL-CIO. Sarah Fox of the AFL-CIO (formerly an NLRB board member) mediated the meeting. The welcome result of this meeting is that the WGAE and the TNG have reached a tentative agreement, whereby our contract should be signed by the end of the week.

The agreement is basically that the WGAE will sign the contract we ratified on October 30, 2007. The disputed issue of the additional 3% wage increase due some members of the unit will be subject to an arbitration, with the proviso that there be no prejudice to either side related to the fact that the contract has already been signed.

This is, in essence, the same solution that Bill proposed before Christmas, before Jose and Susan’s employment was terminated. As part of the agreement, WGAE has offered additional compensation to both Jose and Susan, in lieu of renewed employment. This too is something which should be finalized by the end of the week. The side letter Mona earlier insisted on including in the contract, which contained language which could potentially reopen our contract, will not be included.

Assuming all goes well, Monday will be a day which signifies a new phase of our relationship with the WGAE, with a signed contract guaranteeing our rights as workers. It will also be a day to begin building the staff-management relationships which characterize a pleasant, productive, and professional environment.

Also, the meeting previously scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday Jan. 31, will be postponed, in light of these developments.

Yours in Solidarity,

Elaine, Leah, and Karen