It's stringer bonus time !

You'll find an additional $27.53 in your Feb. 1 paycheck, thanks to the Guild. It's the stringer bonus penalty payment for 2000.

The company must pay the penalty because payments to freelancers and other non-Guild members exceeded the limit specified by contract language in the Preamble (Paragraph 6).

Stringer expenses remained within the contract guidelines last year, but good detective work by members of the grievance committee discovered that the company failed to report previous freelance payments paid to exempt employees in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

The reporting glitch has been corrected and freelance payments have been included in the 2000 totals. But when the under-reported payments from those five years were added to the 2000 payments, they totaled $7,130 and exceeded the limit.

The penalty payment is distributed equally among all our members except for 13-week interns and temporary employees.   

Here's a suggested use for your bonus

Last month, the membership amended the pension plan so Sharon Voas could qualify for disability payments. Now, members have another chance to help Sharon by donating the stringer bonus to her.

Members of the Executive Committee will be accepting your donations to assist Sharon in bridging the financial gap until her disability payments, which are delayed by governmental red tape, can begin.

Your modest donation can double in value because our treasury will match each donation. Donations may be submitted in check to Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh with notation on the memo line "For Sharon Voas."

A deserved pay boost for a new member

A Guild member started the year off right with a whopping $249 weekly raise, thanks to the eagle eyes of the Guild. A payroll note from the company showed that this new member was hired at a rate of pay that failed to acknowledge the individual's experience.

The Guild challenged this lower pay rate and presented documentation showing how this was inconsistent with other new hirees.

We're pleased to report that our member was bumped up to the deserved higher pay scale. Our thanks to the company for righting a wrong.

Christmas vacation week is different

Just a reminder when selecting your vacation weeks: Christmas week is different than the other 51 in the year.

Unlike all other weeks where vacation preference is solely determined by seniority, Christmas vacation is granted on a rotating basis according to seniority. Those at the top of the Christmas week seniority list who choose to take it off go to the bottom of the list next year. Everyone else moves up.

You don't drop to the bottom until you take the week off. Requests for Christmas week must be submitted and posted by Sept. 1. No bumping of Christmas week will be permitted after Sept. 1. For the remaining 51 weeks of  the year, the deadline is March. 1.

If you have any questions, see one of your Guild representatives. And, Merry Christmas !

Are you feeling better, dear?

In case you find yourself staying home due to a work-related illness or injury, be advised that the company has a new procedure for keeping tabs on you.

Supervisors are now supposed to call you weekly for a "friendly conversation, just to check in," to quote the memo that went out to managers.

They also are to make notes about these conversations and pass them along to management for the administration of Worker's Compensation claims. Sample questions: What treatment are you receiving? Is it helping? Do you know when you'll return to work? Is there anything the company can do for you?

Supervisors also will make notes on the following: Is the individual cooperative or not? Does he/she say anything about going away? Is there displeasure with the treatment or doctor? Has there been communication with Travelers? (the insurance company)

The company is within its rights to do this. Members should keep in mind, however, that there's more to these conversations than a friendly chat.

President -- Mike Bucsko  
Treasurer -- Ken Fisher            
Secretary -- Ed Blazina
1st Vice President -- Sally Kalson         
2nd Vice President -- Annie O'Neill            
3rd Vice President -- Liz Gray         
PG Unit Chair -- Mike Fuoco
Unit Treasurer -- Patt Risher
Unit Secretary --  Dave Peters
PG Unit Delegate -- Carrie Abels