TNG OFFICIAL TO COME
AS PREPARATION FOR CONTRACT TALKS BEGINS

TIME TO HIT THE (BLUE) BOOKS

By TOM ERNST

The Guild's contract with the News doesn't expire until July 31, 2002, but bargaining preparations already are under way.

Negotiations are expected to be especially tough this time (Yeah, we always say that but that doesn't make it any less true) so it's important to get an early start.

One of the first steps will be taken Nov. 18 when Guild officers and stewards - and anyone else interested - will meet with Jim Schaufenbil, international representative for TNG/CWA, in an all-day pre-bargaining preparation session.

"He will give us some guidelines on what we can do to prepare for bargaining," said Sina Williams, vice president/mobilization and communication, who is helping to arrange the session.

Former BNG-CWA President Phil Fairbanks has already agreed to chair the union’s contract research committee.

On Sept. 16, 19 stewards, officers and other interested Guild members took part in a Contract Interpretation Workshop at CWA Local 1122 headquarters in Cheektowaga.

Participants were given situations that might arise in the workplace and told to resolve them citing the applicable section of the contract.

While that little blue contract booklet might not have much of a plot, it can make for interesting reading and the participants spent the morning going over some of the finer points with Bob Reden, Guild attorney.

Reden provided some useful pointers on how it is necessary to read very carefully and how one word can change the whole meaning of a sentence.