Flexibility feature of new contract

Now that the Guild membership has ratified our new contract, bargaining unit members will shortly be able to take advantage of the various changes that provide more flexibility, including a shorter workweek, options for a four-day workweek and to work at home and paid leaves of absence.

In order to ensure that Guild members can exercise these options equitably, the union and the company intend to work out a procedure to submit requests for schedule changes. Additional information regarding the requests will be provided when details are finalized.

The Guild last week resolved one outstanding issue in the contract regarding parental leaves. During a grievance meeting, the Guild and company agreed to add to the contract the opportunity for parents to take a six-week leave of absence at half-pay. As part of the negotiations, the contract was changed to provide leaves at half-pay for adoptive parents. The new change extends the benefit to all parents who are not eligible for sick leave after giving birth.

The new provisions of the contract should be in effect within a couple weeks, after the other unions in the building have completed their ratification meetings.

In addition, the Guild will be welcoming eight new members from the management ranks as part of the new contract that requires 10 exempt employees to join the bargaining unit. Two former members of management, Don Hammonds and Kim Germovsek, have already crossed over and rejoined the Guild. Welcome, Don and Kim!

 Guild picnic Aug. 24 in Marshall

     The Guild’s annual family picnic is just a few weeks away. The Aug. 24 picnic will be in our usual location - North Highlands in Marshall. It’s an ideal spot to get together and relax for a few hours. Maps and additional picnic information will be available in a couple weeks.

 Off The Record II ready to roll

Off the Record II, co-presented by the Guild and Pittsburgh AFTRA, will return to the Byham Sept. 26, with a number of Guild members and other Post-Gazette colleagues working either on stage or behind the scenes.

Auditions for PG personnel will be held at Point Park College’s third floor ballroom (use the main entrance at Boulevard and Wood) from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, for anyone interested in performing.

If you intend to audition - a step needed to give director Greg Lehane an idea of how to fit people into the cast and singers - please advise Chris Rawson beforehand and get any additional details from him. Or let him know if you’re interested in the show, but can’t make it July 31.

Also, PG personnel will have a chance to reserve tickets before they go on sale to the general public, giving us the best possible seats. All seats - costing $50, $35 and $20 - will be assigned instead of general admission this year. Details will be forthcoming of an in-house ticket campaign, which will be held for a week in mid-to-late August. Tickets may be ordered by check at that time. At the end of the in-house sales campaign, tickets may be ordered the same as for the general public, using a credit card through the Byham’s box office and phone service.

 New executive committee member

Natalie Hill is the newest member of the Guild executive committee. Natalie was appointed by the executive committee during a meeting July 17, after the committee reluctantly accepted the resignation of Liz Gray. Natalie, a news assistant in business, will take Liz’s former position as third vice-president.

Thanks Liz for all your work as a member of the executive committee and chair of the scholarship committee!