Contract improvements pending
Arbitration victories
Arbitrators in two separate cases have ruled that columns written by exempt employees are in violation of our contract.

The rulings upheld virtually every complaint lodged by the Guild in these disputes that date back more than a year. The immediate effect of the first ruling was to temporarily stop publication of one column last week.
The company strongly disagreed with the first decision, but it reluctantly complied with the order. Guild negotiators took full opportunity of our victories to negotiate contract changes that will improve security for 
part-time members, upgrade salaries for image techs in the photo lab and award each member with a bonus at the end of the year.

The Guild also has received a guarantee from the company that we will refine contract language on the PG website that will ensure our jurisdiction in the future.
The exempt columns will continue pending membership approval of the tentative agreement.
We'll distribute details in a fact sheet. We're planning a membership meeting for March 21 to discuss and approve the agreement.

March 21 meeting & open house
After eight years in Dormont, our Guild office and meeting hall is back Downtown.
Our office is on the second floor of the United Steelworkers' Building -- right next door to the Post-Gazette.

We're going to hold our first membership meeting at 12:30 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. March 21 in the first-floor meeting hall of the Steelworker's Building. We're holding dual meetings with identical agendas to accommodate members on the day and night shifts.
Sandwiches, fruit, cookies, other snacks and beverages will be served after adjournment. Afterwards, everyone is invited to visit our new two-room office suite on the second floor and enjoy the view overlooking Stanwix 
Street.

Heartwarming generosity
Newsroom employees -- Guild members and managers -- have donated more than $3,000 for Sharon Voas who is on disability and will not be returning to work.
The Guild treasury will match the donations. Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for your kindness.

Take me out to the ballgame . . . 
. . . and the Guild's annual spring party
Members and their guests are invited to our yearly version of spring training -- a casual party beginning at 7 p.m. March 24 in the River City Inn, 5 PPG Place.
In conjunction with the opening of PNC Park and because we own a partial season ticket plan, this year's party will have a baseball theme. You're welcome to wear Pirate caps, jerseys and jackets.

Enjoy out-of-the-park hot hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. Also, take a swing at the 21 pairs of Pirate tickets for 20 Friday and Sunday games and 1 Thursday game that will be raffled to members.

We'll also be awarding Pirate paraphernalia. To qualify, members must be present for the 10 p.m. drawings. The only exception is for members who are scheduled to work that evening. Those members should send an e-mail to Mike Fuoco (mfuoco@post-gazette.com) and their name will be entered for the drawings.

For more information, ask either Keightley Amen or Mike Fuoco.

Joe Beirne Foundation Scholarship
Do you have a son or daughter who will begin undergraduate or graduate studies in the fall? A grandchild on the same academic path? A spouse ready to tackle a bachelor's or master's degree? How about an undergrad or grad who is returning to school?
If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, you can apply for a Joe Beirne Foundation Scholarship through CWA. Only 30 scholarships nationwide are granted, but you have the opportunity to win a two-year scholarship 
valued at $3,000 per year.