Buffalo Newspaper Guild Home Page
Guild Disclaims Interest
in Tonawanda News Unit
By Tina Destro
ABC Vice Chairperson
Employees at the Tonawanda News are no longer represented by the Buffalo
Newspaper Guild.
Guild members, at the Sept. 5 local meeting, unanimously approved a resolution
disclaiming interest in representing the Tonawanda News bargaining unit.
As a result, the National Labor Relations Board has been notified that the
Sept. 12 decertification vote requested by Tonawanda News employees was
unnecessary.
The unit had worked under posted conditions imposed by the publisher, American
Publishing Inc., since early 1992. These conditions served as a "contract"
after the members rejected the company's last offer and an impasse was reached
in the bargaining process, which began in January of 1990.
On Aug. 19, Marian Needham, local service representative, sent a letter to
the Tonawanda News bargaining unit employees outlining the impact of
decertification and lack of representation. The letter notified them that
the Guild would be willing to continue to fight for a contract if the employees
wanted one.
"The Guild wants to do what is best for employees of the Tonawanda News and
we intend to follow your direction," the letter stated.
Needham also asked employees to contact the Guild with their input by Aug.
30. None responded to the letter.
"It's clear that we (the Guild) wouldn't prevail, there is no benefit in
pushing for an election," Needham said at the Sept. 5 local meeting.
LaFountain, present at the local meeting, moved that the local accept the
request of the Tonawanda News unit that the local disclaim interest in it,
therefore pre-empting the need for an election.
A resolution was drafted at the meeting that reads as follows: "Having
represented Tonawanda News employees for about 40 years, the local regretfully
disclaims interest in the bargaining unit after canvassing the 11 members
and finding no interest for the local continuing to represent them."
Margaret Hammersley, Buffalo News editorial staff members, seconded the motion
saying, "We've done our part, we've walked this path beyond where it ended."
"This is like pulling the plug on a respirator," Sina Williams, local president,
said. "I'm very sorry this has happened."
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