Vote on Bargaining Team at next Local meeting

TIME FOR TALKS

By TOM ERNST

A 10-member committee will represent the Guild when negotiations on a new contract begin in January.

President Phil Fairbanks will recommend members for the committee, which will be larger than in past negotiations, at the Guild's regular monthly meeting on Nov. 27. The Executive Committee agreed on its size and scope during a special meeting on Nov. 14.

While there was considerable discussion among the Executive Committee members that a smaller committee might be less cumbersome, it was agreed to go with the larger group to ensure that all departments are adequately represented.

And, as Chief Negotiator Jim Schaufenbil said, if more members are willing to serve, "Why would you not want that?"

The committee will be made up of three representatives from the Editorial Department and one each from the other five departments represented by the Guild: Inside Circulation, Outside Circulation, Classified Advertisement, Accounting, and Advertising Customer Service.

If the membership approves at the November monthly meeting, Schaufenbil and local service representative Tammy Turnbull will also serve on the bargaining committee.

The size of the Editorial Department contingent reflects the fact it is the largest department, with 182 of the Guild's 352 members.

Jim Heaney of Editorial, who already has agreed to serve on the negotiating committee if elected, said there was concern in past years among some Editorial members that the unit was not adequately represented on the negotiating committee.

The problem facing the Executive Committee was how to ensure that each department was adequately represented while still recognizing Editorial's size.

A weighted voting system and a two-tier committee were among the alternatives discussed before it was unanimously agreed that having each department represented while granting Editorial three representatives was the best solution.

Of course, approval of any contract agreement rests with the local membership and the need for good communication among the negotiating committee, the Executive Committee, and the membership, was stressed.

It was agreed that the Executive Committee will meet at least once a month with the negotiating committee while talks are under way.

The Guild had a seven-member committee during the previous negotiations.

While the negotiations to reach the current contract agreement, which expires on July 31, 2002, dragged on for 18 months, Schaufenbil said preliminary, informal discussions with the company give him reason to be optimistic they will move along this time.

"I'm very confident we can conclude (bargaining) before the expiration date" of the contract, he said. The Guild's six-year contract with The News ends July 31, 2002. "The company wants swift negotiations."

He conceded, however, that negotiations over health insurance "will be a battleground."

Schaufenbil said members should look at sitting down with management as a "wonderful experience" that can be "terribly exciting."

During the last negotiations an attempt was made at departmental bargaining with mixed results will it likely will not be attempted this time.

The idea "got a pretty negative response from the company" during recent talks, Schaufenbil said.

That does not preclude the idea of sub committees from both the Guild and management sitting down to discuss departmental concerns, however.

Negotiations are scheduled to begin Jan. 8 with subsequent sessions on Jan. 10, Jan. 22 and Jan. 24. The plan is to meet each Tuesday and Thursday, every other week.

Sina Williams, vice for mobilization and communication and past president of the Guild, said she feels "we should focus (on having a contract by) July 31."