Guild forms committee to find newsroom savings

 In a proactive move on the eve of contract negotiations aimed at identifying ways to achieve cost-savings in the newsroom, the Guild's executive board has established a committee to scour the news operation for ways to save money on basic things, ways to help it operate more efficiently as well as possible new revenue streams to increase profitability.

 Since the company has refused to provide the committee - which was willing to guarantee vows of confidentiality from anyone who viewed it - a copy of its budget, we need everyone's help in trying to help the company help itself.

 All Guild members are encouraged to either volunteer for the committee, or provide information to it about ways the company can tighten its belt without sacrificing quality.  

For instance, one Guild member suggested recently that the notion of printing piles of news budgets each day (most of which end up unused in a waste container) certainly costs a considerable amount annually in an operation that is completely equipped with computers that could accomplish the same things. 

As everyone knows, there are numerous other examples of possible savings that could be achieved. 

The committee invites every idea, big and small. Bill Moushey is the chair.  Anyone interested in being part of the committee or in submitting ideas can contact Bill at: Bmoushey@pointpark.edu.

Annual holiday gala Dec. 3 at PNC Park

The Guild’s holiday party this year will be Saturday, Dec. 3, in a new venue – the beautiful Home Plate Club at PNC Park, located at 115 Federal Street. Our party starts at 7 p.m. and concludes at midnight.

The executive committee voted to raise the per person price of the party by $5, from $15 to $20, for the first time in at least a decade. The party is the Guild’s biggest expense of the year and a majority of the committee felt it was necessary to try and offset the cost a bit.

The party will feature an open bar and host of hors d’oeuvres that include…. Parking

Please see Marylynne Pitz, Sally Kalson or Marianne Mizera to pay for the party and make your reservation.

Appeals court to hear Guild’s Point Park case

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments on Jan. 17 in the ongoing case by the National Labor Relations Board to uphold the certification and bargaining rights of the Guild's unit at Point Park University.

The argument, scheduled Oct. 26, follows the submission of a series of briefs over the past few months by the NLRB and an anti-union  lawyer hired by Point Park, as well as additional briefs filed on behalf of Point Park by independent college association and on behalf of the NLRB and the Guild by the AFL-CIO.

Point Park University in July 2004 refused the Guild's request to bargain on behalf of its fulltime faculty after the faculty voted overwhelmingly a month earlier to be represented by the union. The NLRB has fought with the college on several legal fronts since then, the most recent being the appeals court. The Guild and the NLRB have so far won at ever stage of the legal case.

Quarterly membership meeting Dec. 7

The Guild’s next quarterly meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the first-floor meeting room of the United Steelworkers Building, located next door to the Post-Gazette.

There will be two sessions – at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – to accommodate our members. As usual, food and beverages will be served for all. Hope to see everyone there.

2005-06 Local officers

Officers for the local and its three units began new terms on Nov. 1 following elections over the past two months.

The local’s officers are: President, Mike Bucsko; 1st Vice-President, Sally Kalson; 2nd Vice-President, Marianne Mizera; 3rd Vice-President, Natalie Hill; Secretary, Ed Blazina; Treasurer, Ken Fisher.

Post-Gazette unit: Chairman, Mike Fuoco; Secretary, Dave Peters;

Treasurer, Anita Srikameswaran; Delegate to the Executive Committee, Jim Heinrich.

The Valley Independent unit: Chairman, Chris Buckley; Vice-Chairman, Scott Sawa; Secretary, Melissa Stima; Treasurer, Sharri Todd.

Point Park University unit: Chairman, Soren Hogsgaard; Vice-Chairman, Ed Meena; Secretary, Bill Breslove; Treasurer, Channa Newman.