New contract in Monessen

Guild members at our Monessen unit on July 27 approved a new four-year contract that doubles the company's pension contribution and provides for salary increases of 3 percent and 2.5 percent in alternating years.

For the first time, the contract also offers advertising sales employees an opportunity to earn commissions each month. Under the new commission structure, members in advertising sales will receive two-thirds of the wage percentage increase as other bargaining unit members (2 percent instead of 3 percent this year) and have the chance to earn commissions of 3 percent to 5 percent on total sales each month.

The Valley Independent wanted members to receive only one-half of the wage percentage increase, while management would have had total discretion over the commission structure. The Guild also beat back other onerous proposals by the company, including a no strike/no lockout clause, reductions in sick leave and severance pay, and a wage freeze.

The union agreed to a management rights clause much diluted from that originally proposed by the company. Under the Valley Independent's proposal, the company would have had the power to subcontract and transfer work, discontinue departments and cease operations. The Guild-negotiated management rights clause eliminated those sections and reserves the union's right to file grievances over violations of its provisions.

Under the approved contract, which expires April 30, 2009, the company will double its contribution to the ITU pension plan for Guild members over the previous contract. The contract also provides an increase in mileage reimbursement from 25 cents to 28 cents, a change to the funeral leave policy that provides an extra day of leave and adds categories for "stepchild" and "stepparent."

 

Fun in the sun at Guild annual picnic

Come join your fellow Guild members and their families on Saturday, Aug. 20, for the union's annual picnic at beautiful Sunset Beach in Washington County.

Located about 40 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh, Sunset Beach offers the largest swimming pool in Western Pennsylvania, including a water slide, as well as volleyball, horseshoes, softball and a children's playground with a crawl-through castle.

The Guild will provide food and beverages, including barbecued chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and salads.

The picnic begins at 1 p.m., but the pool opens at noon for those who want to cool off early. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

If you plan to attend, please send an e-mail to the Guild office at pghguild@verizon.net and let us know the number of people in your party and the ages of any children you will bring. For directions, go to sunsetbeachpark.net, click on Sunset Beach, then directions.

See you there!

 

The Youngstown strike is over

Newspaper Guild members have voted 50-41 to end their strike against the Vindicator in Youngstown. The strike, which began Nov. 16, ended Aug. 3.

We're happy and relieved.

Our Pittsburgh local supported the Youngstown strikers generously from the first days of the strike, including buying ads in the Valley Voice, the strike paper, and adopting a striker for $100 a month. In addition, a grass-roots effort of our members and friends sent four adopted strikers $2,300. Your generosity made a real difference.

 

Labor Day Parade

The Guild will once again march in Pittsburgh's annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 5.Wear your blue Guild shirt and plan to be at our usual meeting place behind Mellon Arena between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Extra Guild shirts and a continental breakfast will be available for the marchers.

We'll meet for brunch provided by the Guild at the River City Inn after the parade. Bring the family and participate in this show of solidarity with our union brothers and sisters.

 

Annual meeting Sept. 7

Members can nominate officers for new terms and discuss topics for next year's negotiations with the Post-Gazette at the local's annual meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The meeting will be held in two sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the first floor meeting room of the United Steelworkers Building next door to the PG. Food and beverages will be provided.

 

"Off the Record V" Sept. 29

If you've ever seen "Off the Record," the Guild's always-wonderful stage collaboration with AFTRA, the actors union, you'll want to mark your calendar now for "Off the Record V," scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Byham Theater. 

If you've never seen "Off the Record," this is the year you should start! It's always the best show in town.

This year's production looks at Pittsburgh history. As always, the show will benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the unions' scholarship funds.

Mark your calendars, and contact Chris Rawson or Gary Rotstein if you'd like to help.