LOCAL ACTION

June 10 Executive Council meeting
* The agreement to accept the merger of CWA Local 2382, representing the staff of the National Association of Social Workers, into WBNG was presented. Dawan Jones (NASW/CWA 2382 chair) made a presentation on the unit and several ongoing grievances.
* Retroactive authority granted to file unfair labor practices charge against NASW for unilateral restrictions on union activity.  
* Council approved an SEIU Local 500 bargaining committee comprising Sue Gindes, Cara James, Ed Fortney, Debra Dawson, Seth Dietz and WBNG Executive Director Cet Parks . The unit’s two-year contract expires June 30.
* Council approved a BNA Correspondents bargaining committee comprising Steve Burkholder, Chris Brown and WBNG Local Representative Paul Reilly. The unit’s four-year contract expires July 14.  
* Amy Lampkin, AFL - CIO unit chair, said that T-shirts were available ($15 each) showing solidarity with the unit, which has been without a contract since March 31. Several shirts were purchased at the meeting.
* It was confirmed that for the TNG Sector Conference (Washington, July 23-24), WBNG has 17 delegates and will have 18 votes. The local also has six votes at the CWA convention ( Washington, July 26-27).
* Council approved $135 expenditure to fund a delegate’s stay in Detroit at the upcoming U.S. Social Forum.
* The next Council meeting was schedule for July 29 ( 6:45 p.m.), in Washington.

May 13 Executive Council meeting
* An update was given on negotiations at the AFL-CIO, where a contract expired March 31. The update was: “It’s not pretty.” The Guild agreement remains in full force.
* Executive Director Cet Parks and WBNG Treasurer Sheila Lindsay gave an update on the pending merger with CWA Local 2382, which represents 49 workers at the headquarters of the National Association of Social Workers. Members of the freestanding CWA shop will vote on the merger May 19-21.
* Council approved having WBNG staff explore possibilities for securing a CWA grant to subsidize local organizing efforts.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate was granted in the Baltimore Sun (Sun Park facility) custodian shift-changes-imposition grievance.
* A motion to take a Post truck-driver disciplinary case to arbitration was rejected. The majority of council members felt that the worker’s case was not strong enough to pursue.
* Council approved funding for a WBNG delegation (one Guild member) to the Virginia AFL-CIO Convention in Williamsburg, Aug. 12-14.
* Council approved the local’s nominations-process for the 2011 TNG Sector Conference in Orlando and the 2011 CWA Convention in Las Vegas.
* Council approved the results of an April 28 board poll to change start of Sept. 25 General Membership meeting, in Baltimore, from 10 a.m. to noon.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for Thursday, June 10, at 6:45 p.m. in the Washington office.

April 8 Executive Council meeting
* A presentation was made by Craig Ehrens of Free Press, a nonprofit that focuses on campaigns against media concentration, searches for ideas about alternative sources of funding and/or new ownership models for the media, and works to mobilize media consumers on grass-roots issues such as unrestricted access to the Internet.
* An update was given on negotiations at the AFL-CIO, where a one-year contract extension expired March 31.
* Council approved an International Labor Communications Association bargaining committee of Barb Irwin, Mariya Strauss, and Local Representative Rick Ehrmann.
* Council approved the new collective bargaining agreement at BNA; the three-year contract was ratified by a unit membership vote of 204-19.
* Discretionary authority was granted to file an Unfair Labor Practice charge against BNA’s imposition of a dress code in Rockville.
* WBNG President Mark Pattison reported on the CWA District 2 conference, which featured presentations by Maryland Democrats Gov. Martin O’Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards.
* Council approved the purchase of tickets for “Labor Night” events at Camden Yards (June 25) and Nationals Park (July 9).
* Council approved the purchase of a quarter-page ad for the program for the May 7 Northern Virginia Labor Federation Volunteer Recognition Dinner.
* Council approved the purchase of a quarter-page ad for the program for the DC Central Labor Council FilmFest. Annual event is staged in the fall.
* Council approved the tentative lease agreement for WBNG's D.C. office. Executive Director Cet Parks will work out the final language and sign the agreement.
* Council approved nomination of BNA’s Reza Namdar for Guild Service Award.
* The next WBNG Executive Council meeting was set for Thursday, May 13, in the D.C. office.

March 25 General Membership meeting
* The Front Page- and Guild Service Award-winners for 2009 were honored.

March 4 Executive Council meeting
* Council learned that the BNA unit had reached tentative agreement on a three-year contract.
* Council approved a first contract at Working America, WBNG's newest bargaining unit, a three-year agreement.
* Council approved the three-year contract at Radio Free Asia.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the Baltimore Sun call-center termination grievance.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the Sun columnists overtime grievance.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the American Nurses Association sexual harassment grievance.
* Council received a report that with the integration of the Washington Post Web-site newsroom, the number of Post workers covered by the collective bargaining agreement has increased by more than 100; unit size is now approximately 960.
* Council approved the most recent audit of the local's financial statements.
* Council discussed relocation options for WBNG headquarters; council approved having Executive Director Cet Parks negotiate with both current lease-holder and potential vendors.
* Council approved purchase of a quarter-page ad in the AFL-CIO "Evening With Labor" awards dinner program.
* Council approved sending Parks and WBNG President Mark Pattison to CWA District 2 Conference in Baltimore.
* Council approved moving the March 25 General Membership meeting from Washington to Baltimore and the May 29 membership meeting from Washington to Baltimore.
* The next council meeting was set for April 8 in the Washington office.

Feb. 11 Executive Council meeting
(Due to inclement weather, the February council meeting was cancelled.)

Jan. 9, 2010, General Membership meeting
* A presentation was made by WBNG by at-large member David Prosten, editor and publisher, Union Communication Services, based in Annapolis. The primary services of UCS are offered through a newsletter, Steward Update; and with the publication of books and service manuals for union activists. Prosten’s company also offers a catalog with an extensive listing of labor-related books.

* The following were elected by acclamation to be delegates to The Newspaper Guild Sector Conference in Washington July 23-24: Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service; Darlene Meyer, Washington Post; Sheila Lindsay, American Nurses Association; Mark Gruenberg, at-large member; Connie Knox, Baltimore Sun; Cet Parks, at-large; Ken May, BNA; Dan Duncan, at-large; Barb Irwin, International Labor Communications Association; Angie Kuhl, Sun; Tim Fitzgerald, American Postal Workers Union; Amy Lampkin, AFL-CIO; Denise Riley, at-large; Paul Reilly, at-large; Rick Ehrmann, at-large; Joe Kahraman, at-large; Tiffany Heath, AFL-CIO. Alternate delegates elected by acclamation: Andre Roberson, United Food and Commerical Workers; Miranda Nelson, UFCW; Brent Jones, Sun; Dennis Sadowski, CNS; Mary Esslinger, CNS; Mariya Strauss, ILCA; Wesley Hams, ANA; Mike Gronowski, Post; Laura Francis, BNA; David Prosten, at-large.

* The following were elected to be delegates to the Communications Workers of America convention in Washington July 26-27: Pattison, Meyer, Lindsay, Gruenberg, Knox, Parks. (Alternate delegates to the convention were the delegates elected to the alternate-delegate slate for the TNG sector conference.)

Jan. 9, 2010, Executive Council meeting
* Executive Director Cet Parks reported that AFL-CIO management sent "official notice" of its intent to modify the collective bargaining agreement with the Guild. Parks noted that this notification was given prior to the 90-day window under which it is supposed to be given (under that agrement).
* Parks reported that management notifications are required on contracts expiring in 2010 at Local 500, United Food & Commercial Workers Union, and the American Postal Workers Union.
* Council approved a three-year contract at the Solidarity Center; the new agreement runs to Sept. 25, 2012.
* Local Representative Paul Reilly reported that Guild members at Agence France-Presse in a unanimous vote in mid-December had ratified an 18-month contract extension. Council approved the AFP contract, which runs through June 2011.
* Council approved a four-month extension of a contract at the International Labor Communications Association. The extension runs through April 30.
* Reilly reported on talks at BNA, where the contract runs out Feb. 28.
* Bill Salganik (At-Large member) reported on ongoing legal actions in the Tribune bankrupty.
* Parks reported on testimony in the Baltimore Sun pay-for-performance arbitration.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the dress-code dispute at BNA's Rockville office.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the Radio Free Asia "non-resignation" dispute.
* Local Representative Joe Kahraman reported on first-contract talks at Working America, the Guild's newest bargaining unit.
* Council approved the initiation of merger talks with a D.C.-based independent staff union with 65 bargaining-unit members.
* Council discussed exploration of sites for the local's office, where the current lease expires late this year.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for Feb. 11 in the Guild's Washington Office.

December 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Executive Director Cet Parks reported that a tentative three-year agreement (retroactive to Sept. 28, 2009) had been reached at the Solidarity Center.
* Council approved an 18-month contract extension (to June 30, 2011) at the National Labor College.
* Council approved a one-year contract extension (to Dec. 31, 2010) at Catholic News Service.
* Local Representative Rick Ehrmann and WBNG Treasurer Sheila Lindsay (American Nurses Association) discussed developments at United American Nurses, which may or may not be absorbed into a newly formed National Nurses Union.
* Local Representative Paul Reilly discussed the opening of negotiations at BNA, wherea contract exprires Feb. 28, 2010.
* Council approved a Radio Free Asia bargaining team: Liu Hong, Karma Zurkhang, Ko Ko Aung, and WBNG rep Reilly.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the Sun parking-garage fees dispute.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in a comp time dispute at Casa de Maryland.
* Parks discussed the WBNG D.C. office lease, which expires Dec. 31, 2010. An office-lease task force was formed: WBNG President Mark Pattison (CNS), WBNG Vice President Darlene Meyer (Washington Post), WBNG Treasurer Lindsay, Tiffany Heath (AFL-CIO), and WBNG director Parks.
* Pattison reported on TNG Bi-Council (Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions) meeting in Memphis.
* Denise Riley (At-Large) reported on the Maryland-DC Legislative Conference held in late October in Pikesville. Layoffs and furloughs to close the Maryland budget gap; taking the largest hit are social workers.
* Council approved $100 for Casa de Maryland’s “Buy a Brick” program.
* Council approved sending up as many as five WBNG members (paying for registration only) to the seminar for new local officers being held at the National Labor College in February.
* Council approved the most recent financial statement.
* The next executive council meeting was set for Jan. 9 at the Washington office; to commence immediately following the WBNG General Membership meeting (10 a.m.).

November 2009 General Membership meeting
* Executive Director Cet Parks reported that Solidarity Center negotiations were under way.
* Parks reported that a one-year contract extension had been agreed to at the AFL-CIO.
* At-Large member Bill Salganik gave an update on Tribune bankruptcy proceedings; the Guild is contesting bonuses given to Tribune executives.
* Salganik reported on a “fellowship” workshop for laid-off workers at the Sun.
* WBNG President Mark Pattison reported on a successful day-long stewards/activists training, which drew 19 Guild members, and included a “train-the-trainer” component.
* The membership gave retroactive approval to pursue an Unfair Labor Practice complaint at BNA-Rockville regarding the imposition of a dress code.
* Approval was given to a one-year contract extension at Catholic News Service.
* Reports were presented on preparations for bargaining at BNA, where a contract expires Feb. 28, and at Working America, where bargaining for a first contract is under way.
* Elise Bryant, a WBNG member at the National Labor College, and a member of The Newspaper Guild’s Human Rights Committee gave a presentation on domestic-partner rights in the workplace, proposed human rights legislation, and the activities of Human Rights Watch. “We’re in a war against an economic crisis,” she said, “as well as an anti-union culture.”
* A membership meeting schedule for 2010 was approved. The meetings will be held Jan. 9 (at the Washington Guild office); March 25 (at the Baltimore Guild office); May 29 ( Washington); Sept. 25 ( Baltimore); and Nov. 10 ( Washington).

November 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Council approved the Strategic Plan, which will convert WBNG into a more organizing-oriented model.
* Council approved allotting $200 each to Holiday Basket drives organized by the Washington and Baltimore Central Labor Councils.
* Schedule for the Front Page Awards was announced: Deadline for entries is close of business Feb. 1.
* Denise Riley (Member at-Large) was approved as a delegate to the Guild Mid-Atlantic leadership conference in Atlantic City, Jan. 8-10.
* Council learned that the Community Services Agency’s annual fund-raiser bowling event will be held Jan. 31.
* Council learned that TNG will not – as previously expected – pay for Sheila Lindsay (American Nurses Association) to attend the TNG Southern District Council meeting in Memphis Nov. 21-22. Council agreed to pay her expenses for the trip.
* The most recent financial report was approved.
* The next council meeting was set for Dec. 10 in Washington.

October 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Council learned that the AFL-CIO unit had ratified a one-year extension of its collective bargaining agreement. The contract now expires March 31.
* Council approved a Solidarity Center unit bargaining committee of Ben Davis, Dave Welsh, Laurie Clements, Lorraine Clewer, Chris Johnson, Samantha Tate, and WBNG Executive Director Cet Parks. Parks reported that management has been dragging its feet on getting negotations started; a three-year contract expired at the Center in late September.
* Local Representative Rick Ehrmann gave a report on the gradual integration of WPNI (Web site) staff with the Washington Post print-daily staff. The Guild is contesting exclusion from the union of approximately 65 employees, mostly in IT.
* Council received an update on Tribune Co. bankruptcy proceedings.
* Council learned that bargaining at the National Labor College, where a contract expired July 31, is not progressing at any great speed. Unit member and Executive Council member Matt Lozak has taken a buyout; he is maintaining his at-large membership and is allowed to remain on the Council until his term expires.
* Council approved the addition of Ray Algeo to the BNA bargaining team.
* A bargaining team consisting of Mark Pattison, Mary Esslingen, and Local Representative Paul Reilly was approved for the Guild unit at Catholic News Service, where a two-year agreement expires Dec. 31.
* A bargaining team consisting of Rami Elamine, Heather Rogers, Christian Norton, and Local Representative Joe Kahraman was approved for the Guild’s newest bargaining unit, Working America, which is seeking a first contract.
* Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich (National Labor College) was approved as an additional WBNG delegate to the MD-DC AFL-CIO convention in Pikesville, Md., Oct. 29-31.
* Council approved sending Pattison, Connie Knox (member at-large), and Sheila Lindsay (American Nurses Association) to the Southern District Council meeting in Memphis the weekend before Thanksgiving. Since Knox and Lindsay are TNG national officers, travel and per diem are needed only for Pattison.
* Discussion occurred over the Guild’s Green Zone policy.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for Nov. 14 in Baltimore.

September 2009 General Membership/Executive Council [combined] meeting
* An overview of the Strategic Plan was presented; the subcommittee’s formal report will be presented at the WBNG Executive Council meeting in October.
* A report was received from the UFCW unit chair about steward training conducted at the shop that was based on local-wide training.
* Executive Director Cet Parks gave an update on the contract at the AFL-CIO, where a one-year extension will be voted on by the unit membership Sept. 28-30.
* Parks gave an update on contract negotiations at the Solidarity Center, where a collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 25.
* An update was received on an arbitration over a termination case at the Solidarity Center .
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate was granted in a pay-for-performance case at the Baltimore Sun.
* An update was received on the Tribune bankruptcy proceedings.
* Local Representative Rick Ehrmann outlined the latest “integration notices” at the Washington Post, where the print and online newsrooms are being combined. Integration of the non-editorial side of things also is proceeding, with an integration notice received about four members of the WPNI Accounting Department staff. Negotiations are scheduled.
* Ehrmann discussed how management at the National Labor College had rejected the Guild’s proposal to extend the collective bargaining agreement, which expired March 31. The conditions of the contract remains in effect.
* Ehrmann described the separation packages negotiated for Guild members at United American Nurses. The UAN unit is being dissolved due to mergers involving the parent organization.
* A BNA bargaining team was approved: Reza Namdar, Gwen Holmes, Laura Francis, Bruce Kaufman, Rich Bronson, Lisa Blackwell, Rob Hadaway, Bruce Nelson, and Local Representatives Joe Kahramann and Paul Reilly.
* Spending of $100 was approved for a half-page ad in the Allied Printing Trades Council of Baltimore calendar-planning book for 2010.
* WBNG President Mark Pattison said that the 27th Biennial Convention of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO will be held Oct. 29-31 in Pikesville, Md. Tiffany Heath (AFL-CIO) was approved as the local’s delegate; Denise Riley (At-Large member) was added as a fully-credentialed alternate.
* A subcommittee was created to review the WBNG office (15th Street, Washington) lease, which expires in 2010.
* A resolution was adopted that shows support for Tunisian journalists. TNG International is working with the Solidarity Center to support the campaign.
* The 2010 budget for the local was approved.
* The next council meeting was set for Oct. 8, in the Washington Guild office; the next General Membership meeting was tentatively set for Nov. 14, in the Baltimore office..

August 2009 Executive Council meeting
* AFL-CIO bargaining over a contract that expired March 31 was reported as “very close.”
* Solidarity Center bargaining, over a contract that expires Sept. 25, is still pending due to “haggling over dates” for negotiation sessions.
* Council approved an SEIU 500 wage re-opener.
* Council received a report that the local had won an arbitration with SEIU 500 management on mileage payments.
* Council received a report that WBNG was the only member of the Tribune-bankruptcy creditors committee to oppose more than $66 million in bonuses being given to 720 top executives of the company.
* Council approved a Working for America Institute one-year contract extension through June 30, 2010. Local Representative Rick Ehrmann noted that with new federal funding, Guild-covered positions at WAI are expected to soon double from three to six.
* Council received a report that management at the National Labor College, where a contract expired July 31, did not agree to a one-year contract extension.
* Ehrmann announced that effects bargaining is scheduled to begin at United American Nurses where a contract expires Dec. 31. UAN is scheduled to merge in December with the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee and the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
*Council approved mid-term bargaining re-opening proposal by the American Rights at Work unit.
* WBNG Treasurer Sheila Lindsay reported that TNG’s Human Rights and Equity Committee is concentrating on the need to groom women and minority-group members to become union leaders.
* Lindsay (American Nurses Association) reported on WBNG condolences to family of member Mandy “Mary” Dolittle, the ANA unit member killed in Metro subway crash in June, and on its support of ANA member Adeline Cooper, who was injured in the crash is still recovering.
* Lindsay reported that Guild action at the TNG Sector Conference resulted in the CWA Convention promising the Guild money from the Strategic Industries Fund to be used for organizing. Executive Director Cet Parks noted TNG and Berger-Marks Foundation helped pay for organizing.
* Council approved spending $200 for “golf tee” for Baltimore Community Services Agency fund-raising tournament. It was pointed out that CSA was quite helpful to the Guild during the latest round of layoffs and firings at the Sun.
* Council approved spending $100 for ILCA business card ad.
* Council approved reimbursing WBNG delegates for expenses for attending TNG Sector Conference.
* The date of the next General Membership meeting was set for Sept. 12 ( 10 a.m.), with the Executive Council meeting to follow immediately afterwards.

2009 Local Action

2008 Local Action

2007 Local Action