Tentative Agreement
Reached in Circulation

The Buffalo Newspaper Guild-CWA and The Buffalo News have reached a tentative agreement on the settlement of a grievance filed in February over the assignment of bargaining unit work to an independent contractor. Arbitration on this issued was scheduled for December 16.

The grievance was filed February 5 through The Newspaper Guild-CWA Legal Services Program.

Late last year, The Buffalo News consolidated some 16 'free publication' delivery routes under the umbrella of one independent distributor, KMF., Inc. Responsibility for these routes has been historically divided among the district managers working in the Circulation Single Copy Sales Department.

The consolidation of these routes resulted in the independent contractor performing duties normally performed by district managers including the filling of vacant routes, delivery of downed routes, maintenance of route lists, communications with The Buffalo News related to delivery, delivery of supplies to the outlets carrying these free publications, reporting on deficiencies or repairs needed at the outlets, and in some cases, determining new outlets. Free publications delivered by The News include the Home Finder, the Apartment Finder and the Auto Finder. They are displayed at various retail and business locations throughout Western New York.

The change in route delivery also had an impact on the boundaries of district managers areas as addressed in Article 26, Section 2 of the contract.

"The union understands that The News has the right to determine the number, location, and replacement of independent distributors in Circulation, but changes in these conditions cannot infringe on the jurisdiction of the Guild or violate any other aspect of the contract," said Tina Destro, Local Service Representative. "We believe we have reached a good agreement, one that protects the Guild and addresses the needs of The News in Circulation."

The tentative agreement language has been reviewed and approved by TNG-CWA headquarters and General Counsel Barbara Camens.

The agreement will be presented to the local membership at the Nov. 24 meeting for approval.