Guild Facts Vol. 11, No.5 Guild seeks to represent Point Park profs    On Oct. 20, the Guild filed a petition with the National Labor Relations  Board to represent 68 full-time professors at Point Park University,  formerly Point Park College. The college is challenging the petition under  a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding Yeshiva University in New  York.    A hearing on our petition was originally scheduled to begin Nov. 3, but  the board granted the college's request for a second continuance, despite  our objection. The hearing is now scheduled for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.    If the Guild is successful in bringing the Point Park folks into the  union, they would function as the third unit in our local and be entitled  to four seats on our executive board.    We're glad the Point Park folks chose us to help them attain a collective  bargaining voice as the college undergoes a transition from college to  university status. This will undoubtedly be a long struggle, so we're  lucky to be able to rely on the resources of the Communications Workers of  America. The CWA, as part of the international's organizing program, is  paying the local's lost time and legal expenses in the Point Park  campaign.    As the campaign progresses, we may need to call on some of our members to  reach out to any contacts they may have among the full-time Point Park  faculty. Please contact President Mike Bucsko if you can offer any  assistance.   Weekend rotation    The new weekend rotation schedule for Guild members in business and  features has caused considerable consternation, but so far it has not  violated the contract.    The executive committee examined the contractual issues of the weekend  shifts and consulted the Guild's attorney for a legal opinion. The company  is relying on language that has been in the contract for more than 15  years (Article XIII, Para. 9) that permits the movement of employees  between departments in a given workweek.    The legal opinion from our attorney was that the union would not succeed  on a challenge to the weekend rotations under the inter-department  transfer clause. The grievance committee discussed the issue with  representatives from business and features to hear their views on the  subject. The grievance committee met with the company, along with two  Guild members who will be affected by the weekend rotation.    After hearing from all sides, the grievance committee recommended against  filing a grievance. The executive committee, weighing that recommendation  and the legal opinion, voted unanimously not to pursue a grievance, but  we'll be keeping close watch for any contract violation.    OT is a right; comp time is nonexistent      The Guild's grievance committee recently filed a grievance over the  company's refusal to pay a Guild member five hours of overtime. During the  initial meeting on the grievance, it became painfully clear that some  departments are routinely violating the contract by providing comp time in  lieu of cash payments for overtime.    Let there be no confusion: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS COMP TIME FOR GUILD  MEMBERS.  As per Article V of the contract, any hours worked between 37½ hours and  40 hours per week "shall be paid at the straight time rate." Overtime  beyond 40 hours in a week "shall be paid for in cash at time and one-half  of the regular rate of pay..."    There it is, as black and white as can be. There is no mention of comp  time because there is NO comp time. Period.  Anyone whose supervisor offers comp time in lieu of cash payment for  overtime should immediately inform President Mike Bucsko or Grievance  Committee Chairman Mike Fuoco or any other executive committee member. Any  member who accepts comp time violates the contract and undermines the  protections of all members.  The company's position during the recent grievance was that it will only  pay overtime that is "pre-approved."  However, the Guild's position is  that, when possible, an employee should let a supervisor know his or her  workday will exceed 7½ hours. If that is not possible, the employee should  work the hours and put in for the overtime.    There is nothing in the contract that says overtime must be pre-approved.  The company and Guild negotiated the overtime section as part of a legal  contract. It is not arbitrary. It is not a privilege. It is your right.     Guild holiday gala is Dec. 6    While you start making your holiday gift list, please remember to save the  date of Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, so you can take advantage of one of the  best bargains money can buy.  For a $15 ticket (or $30 per couple) you can savor great food and drink  and dance to the wonderful music of Tony Janflone during the Guild Holiday  Party at 8 p.m. in the Kings Garden Room of the Pittsburgh Hilton and  Towers in Downtown Pittsburgh.    Tickets will be available beginning Monday, Nov. 10, from Marylynne Pitz  and Lillian Thomas.  Please give us the gift of your presence!   Progress on the Human Rights front    First, the good news from the Human Rights Committee: It looks as if the  Post-Gazette has found the funds to add disabled access to the building.  The second amicable meeting was attended by Mike Bucsko, committee members  Annie O'Neill, Ann Belser, Anita Srikameswaran, Don Hopey, Tony Norman and  Sharon Eberson; and the management team of John Block, David Shribman and  Ray Burnett. The management team reported that at the editor's urging,  David Beihoff, PG president and general manager, had come up with the  $15,000 needed to provide disabled access to the building, so that  visitors in wheelchairs no longer have to enter with the mail. Cheers and  applause to that! The news on equitable benefits for domestic partners is  not as promising. The company's position is that there is no money for any  additional benefits, period. The Blocks' stance is that they still look at  same-sex partnerships as separate but equal, so that paying partner  benefits is seen as an addition. The Guild's position is that our members'  families are just that, families, and all deserving of equal benefits. Mr.  Block said he is eager to read the dozens of individual pleas from Guild  members that were given to him at the end of the meeting. The committee  doesn't intend to let this issue drop, and we welcome your suggestions.    "Off The Record III" is a smash hit    The Oct. 2 Guild-AFTRA co-production at the Byham Theater, "Off the Record  III: Lights! Pittsburgh! Action!," turned out in many ways to be the best  yet in the event's three years. Attendance was up by about 200, with a  total of 815 hard-laughing souls in the audience. Corporate sponsorships  benefiting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Bank nearly tripled those of  the previous year, thanks to volunteer efforts organized largely by Linda  Dickerson on behalf of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the  Guild and AFTRA. The sponsorships and ticket revenues combined to  contribute $25,000 to the food bank from this year's event, which was  $2,000 more than it received in the first two years combined. Another  $3,500 was contributed toward the Guild's scholarship program. The Guild  was represented on stage by members Johnna A. Pro, Jim Heinrich, Pohla  Smith, Samantha Bennett, Carrie Abels and Ruth Ann Dailey, who were  supplemented by PG colleagues Tim Menees, Dan Simpson and Rick DeCarlo and  a big, talented group of AFTRA members. Another large group of Guild  members worked behind the scenes to make the event an overall success,  well on its way now to becoming an ongoing Pittsburgh institution under  the general direction of Gary Rotstein and Chris Rawson. Any Guild member  interested in helping that effort -- either in planning, performing or  backstage work -- should let the R&R team know, as preparations begin  shortly for next fall's Off the Record IV.    Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, CWA Local 38061  (412)880-4001  (412)880-4002 - fax  official1@pghguild.com <mailto:official1@pghguild.com http://www.pghguild.com