New Tact In Bargaining
Yields Important Gains

What failed in the newsroom worked in every other Guild department at The Buffalo News.

It’s called departmental bargaining and the experiment proved worthwhile for most members.

While the process fell short in editorial, Guild leaders in other departments found it helpful in reaching a settlement to some sticky issues. The process assigned supervisors and union stewards from specific departments to work on problems unique to that department. If the supervisors and stewards could find solutions to their departments’ issues, the bipartisan group made specific recommendations for contractual changes to the main bargaining committee.

In most cases, it worked.

“The thing I really liked about departmental bargaining,” said chief negotiator Marian Needham, “is that it gave every department an opportunity to get their issues on the bargaining agenda and have them considered seriously by the people who understood the issues the best.

“I was deeply impressed by the good work done by our stewards, and by News supervisors. We achieved some fine settlements as a result of their efforts.”

Overall, nine separate issues were settled as a direct result of departmental bargaining between The News and Guild.

Accounting, Bookkeeping and Credit

• Groups A and B were combined. An additional year of experience and a pay upgrade were added to the minimum wage.

• Group C was eliminated and a grievance that was headed to arbitration was settled. Under the grievance settlement, three former temporary employees who were assigned to Group C will share approximately $2,000 of back pay.      
       “Departmental bargaining was extremely beneficial because it addressed some long-standing problems the department had,” said Tina Destro, ABC vice chair. “The problems might not have been addressed otherwise, and the solutions we reached will benefit current employees and employees who will be hired in the years to come.”

District Managers

• The district manager bidding system was improved by clarifying the 35% rule, permanently eliminating the freeze on bidding and limiting a DM’s ability to accrue bidding seniority to 12 months when working outside Guild jurisdiction.
       “The News’ goal was to eliminate the bidding system,” said Dick Fay, DM vice chairperson. “Departmental bargaining helped DMs preserve their bidding rights and improve the system.”

• As a result of a company proposal, district sales advisor positions were created to focus on circulation sales. The News can fill up to four positions outside the bidding procedure, but any additional slots are available through the bid.
       “The DSA positions aren’t subject to the bid, but this agreement confirms the sales function as Guild jurisdiction,” Fay added.

Inside Circulation

• Groups C and D were combined at the C rate and part-time employees doing circulation customer service are upgraded to the same hourly rate as their full-time colleagues.

• The News has committed to improving the scheduling system to allow intermittent weekends off for circulation clerks who are regularly required to work Saturday and Sunday.
       “I think departmental bargaining worked well in circulation because both sides were willing to resolve the issues,” said Carol Ann Burke, inside circulation vice chair. “I hope our department’s new management will see the benefit of working with the Guild in the future.”

Classified Advertising

• The incentive system was improved.

• A system was developed to improve scheduling so staffing reflects the anticipated workload.

• A wage upgrade was negotiated for the systems coordinator.
       “We focused on the issues that were important to the classified department. It brought us together to accomplish these things,” said Donna Ryan, classified vice chair.

Editorial

The newsroom had two committees for departmental bargaining, but the negotiators were unable to reach joint recommendations for the main committee. One committee dealt with the job functions and pay scales for editorial clerks, the other with attempting to settle the stringer grievances. The failure of departmental bargaining in the newsroom, however, did not prevent editorial issues from being settled by the main committees.

The stringer grievance settlement will require The News to hire six part-time reporters to do work previously done by free lancers. Editorial clerks who do routine reporting functions will benefit from the new $6 per shift minimum differential for employees who work out of classification. Under the current agreement, most clerks who are assigned to reporters’ functions receive no additional compensation.

Additionally, Groups F, G and H were combined at the Group F level, which provides small upgrades for telephone operators, dictation clerks and the Niagara Falls bureau clerk.

“Even though the lack of progress in departmental bargaining was very frustrating, it was still a useful process for us,” said editorial vice chair Jerry Sullivan. “It certainly helped to have the middle management in the room with us to make them aware of the serious problems their employees face.

“It was particularly good for the clerks - it empowered them in a sense - because over the years they’ve thought their voice wasn’t being heard,” Sullivan added.