Destro Named Guild's Local Service Rep;
By-Laws Waived to Hold
Officer Nominations at October Meeting

Guild President Tina Destro became only the second local service representative in local history last month when union members picked her from a field of 40 candidates.

Destro's appointment is the latest step in a major reorganization of the Guild, a process designed to strengthen the union's ability to bargain and enforce contracts with The Buffalo News.

The local also is in the process of changing its bylaws, the rules by which it is governed. Many of the changes are reforms recommended by the Strategic Initiatives Committee headed by former president Bob McCarthy.

Destro, active in the Guild for years and a former member of the Accounting, Bookkeeping and Credit Department at The News, will succeed Marian Needham, who resigned last year to take a high-ranking job with the Guild in Washington D.C.

As local service representative, Destro will serve as the Guild's only staff person and, in that role, manage the office and assist local officers with grievances, contract administration and other duties related to the day-to-day operations of the union.

Kevin Collison, chairperson of the Guild's Search Committee, said that the decision came down to three candidates.

"Tina had the same kind of experience and personal attributes as her two rivals, and the extra factor of being familiar with the job and a proven, loyal Guild member," Collison said.

"In the end, it was an easy decision for us to recommend her unanimously. We do feel we ran an open and wide-ranging search and this was no rubber stamp process. We also believe the Guild is getting a top notch person in Tina and is fortunate to have her on board."

A committee of Guild members was formed last month to research and negotiate a salary and benefits package for Destro. The local is expected to review and vote on the package at the October local meeting.

"I feel privileged to be able to serve the Guild in this capacity. I consider it a blessing to be able to work with such a fine group of people and in a profession that for me has so much meaning."

Following her appointment, Destro resigned as president and vice president Phil Fairbanks was named interim president until the October meeting. At that time, union members will elect someone to fill the remainder of the 1998 presidential term.

The local also approved waiving the by-law provision that officer nominations be moved from the November meeting to the October meeting. The chair will hear nominations for officers to serve for the 1999 term which begins Jan. 1. Those officers include president, two vice presidents, treasurer and secretary. The agenda will also include nominations of Executive Committee delegates in the Advertising Customer Service and Editorial departments.

Pending acceptance of by-law revisions, the nominations for 1999 terms will reflect some major changes recommended by the McCarthy Committee, most notably the creation of two new vice president positions.

One of the two will be a vice president for contract administration and enforcement, who will oversee the grievance process and other contract enforcement issues. The second will be a vice president for mobilization and communication, who will coordinate a renewed effort at involving rank-and-file members in union issues during both bargaining and non-bargaining times.

Guild members interested in seeking a local office should be prepared to have their name placed in nomination at the next local meeting at 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, Oct., 27, at Guild headquarters, 120 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.