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Executive
Council Nominations Open
Membership to Choose Officers, At-Large Delegates to 2002 Board
Nominations
for at-large officers and at-large members of the 2002 WBNG Executive
Council will be received at the local's Nov. 3 general membership
meeting.
Per the WBNG bylaws, an annual secret-ballot election is required
for the at-large offices of president, vice president, secretary,
and treasurer, and for the five at-large delegate seats. The winners
will take office at the Jan. 26, 2002, membership meeting.
In
the 2001 election, two of the four officer seats were contested.
And there were 11 candidates for the at-large delegate seats.
Nominations
for the officer and delegate seats also may be received by petition
of a minimum of 25 members in good standing. The petition must be
filed with the local's secretary no later than 15 days after the
floor nominations have been officially reported in the Guild Forum.
A Forum will be forwarded via first-class mail early next month,
giving members until Nov. 28 to file petitions.
If at the close of the "petition period" there is no contest for
an office, the WBNG Elections and Referendum Committee shall declare
the nominee (or nominees) for that office elected.
Nominees
who have indicated in writing their willingness to serve but who
are not present at the November meeting will be informed (in writing)
by the secretary within three days (by Nov. 6). They are required
to accept a nomination in writing within seven days (by Nov. 13)
or be disqualified.
The
WBNG board has 18 other seats: Units with more than 50 Guild members
get one council representative for their first 50 members and one
representative for each additional 200 members. These units must
hold their own elections for delegates to the 2002 WBNG board.
The
Post unit is allowed four delegates; the Sun, three; and BNA, two.
The AFL-CIO and UFCW units automatically receive one delegate each,
as do two units added to the Guild this year, the 110-member Association
Staff Union (American Nurses Association) unit and the 55-member
Association of Flight Attendants shop.
Unaffiliated
members and members of the 13 smaller units covered by Guild agreements
comprise the local's 260-member-strong "At-Large Units" unit, which
is entitled to one board representative for every 50 members.
The at-large "unit" will elect its delegation after the WBNG local-wide
election, which under membership mandate will be held Jan. 8-9,
2002.
The
Nov. 3 meeting also will feature nominations for two delegates to
the 2002 TNG Sector Meeting, Feb.14-17 in Orlando. Under the WBNG
constitution, one of the duly elected TNG delegates will also go
to the CWA convention in Las Vegas in July.
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'Shadow'
Non-Members Cast Cloud Over Local
Nestled quietly behind every Guild member lurks the shadowy non-member.
Working in a Guild-covered position, the non-member contributes
nothing but enjoys all the rights others have fought for.
Enjoys job security, layoff protection, severance packages, and
-- thanks to some Guild contracts -- pays ZERO in health insurance
premiums.
Quietly, the non-member sits back as Guild members fight for improved
pay and benefits and against employer take-backs. Union members-winning
paid parental leave, domestic partner coverage, increased pension
contributions, salary increases in nearly every contract each year,
fair job-bidding systems, equitable overtime distribution.
Quietly,
the non-member enjoys these benefits, plus the protection of grievance-arbitration
by a third party when the company steps out of line. From negotiations
to litigation to day-to-day representation, the non-member has the
same rights as dues-paying union members who are honest and fair,
who know it's right to pay your way. The non-member is a constant
shadow, quietly benefiting from the union's labor without contributing
to the cause, to the cost.
Nestled
within the Guild are the non-members, the free riders. Perhaps they
do not understand that without the union contract, the work place
would be a much different place. The company could discipline at
the will of the boss, without recourse. Termination tomorrow without
cause, due process, or appeal. Raise health insurance premiums,
reduce benefits, cut commission rates. All legal-always legal-except
where a union contract says otherwise.
Lay
off who you like, hire back who you want. It happens every day in
non-union companies. Think it can't happen at the Post, the Sun,
BNA, and all the rest if the union were gone tomorrow? Think again.
Nestled
within the Guild are non-members weakening the union, working against
themselves and their co-workers. Perhaps they do not understand.
Educate
non-members. Your unit chair and your local rep can tell you who
they are. Help free riders see the error of their ways -- what's
to be lost without them, what's to be won with them.
In
union, there is strength.
-
Lori Calderone
WBNG Administrative Officer
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President's
Perspective
Dear
Guild Sisters and Brothers:
I
hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. It was
just a few weeks ago that our country fell victim to brutal terrorist
attacks. Innocent people were killed, our freedom and civilization
were threatened, and our economy took a startling hit. In spite
of all these changes, American people, particularly American workers,
banded together to work through the grief and pain we all share.
There is no question that although the spirit of the American people
is scarred, it will heal and we will get through this tragic time
in our history.
Thousands
of American workers, including many union members, suffer not only
the loss of friends and loved ones, but the loss of their jobs,
their livelihoods. Thousands of people are now unemployed as a result
of the collapse of the World Trade Center, the attack on the Pentagon
and the temporary closing of Reagan National Airport.
At
the Sept. 15 General Membership meeting, the Washington-Baltimore
Newspaper Guild endorsed a fund-raising effort in support of the
victims of Sept. 11, 2001. Local 32035 is setting up a special charity:
Guild September 11 Fund.
We are asking our union brothers and sisters to make a contribution
to this fund.
Checks
should be made payable to the "Guild September 11 Fund"
and mailed to WBNG, 1100 15th Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington,
D.C. 20005. Contributions made to the Guild September 11 Fund will
be transferred to organizations within the D.C. and New York labor
communities so that the money can go directly to victims and their
families.
Alternatively,
the CWA has set up a fund called the "CWA
Disaster Relief Fund". Send donations for this fund to
501 3rd Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20001. Money contributed to
the CWA Disaster Relief Fund will be donated directly to CWA victims
and their families. (For a detailed accounting of these victims,
visit www.cwa-union.org/news/whats_new.asp)
If
you have any questions regarding your contribution, please call
the local office at 202-785-3650.
I want to thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.
Peace
and Unity,
- Dawn Rodriguez-Lamar
WBNG President
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APWU
Wins First Guild Pact; AFP Gains Extension
Workers
at two of Local 32035's 21 units wrapped up contract talks early
this month.
On
Oct. 9, the 15-member unit at the headquarters of the American Postal
Workers Union approved its first Guild contract.
Meanwhile,
workers at Agence France-Presse approved a one-year extension of
an agreement covering 55 employees. The AFP pact is now set to expire
Dec. 31, 2002.
At press-time, contracts were being bargained at just two WBNG units.
The
talks at the SEIU Local 500 (the 10-member "MCCSSE" unit) and UFCW
shops concern pacts that have expired, but the 84-member UFCW unit
had resolved most of the non-economic issues in bargaining over
a contract that ran through Oct. 6.
Three
other Local 32035 pacts -- covering about 30 Guild members -- expire
New Year's Eve.
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Bylaws
Panel to Present Proposals
Proposed amendments to WBNG bylaws will be explored at the Nov.
3 membership meeting. The proposals are included with this Forum.
The
local's bylaws have not been amended since 1984. Since the membership's
last approval of constitutional changes, The Newspaper Guild merged
with the Communications Workers of America.
In addition to changes in the relationships with the parent unions,
the bylaws need to reflect technological advances and a clarification
of the election appeal process.
The
membership will decide at the fall meeting whether to hold a referendum
on the proposed changes, which also will be available for review
on the WBNG Web site.
Washington-Baltimore
Newspaper Guild
BYLAWS (Proposed)
[The
following are the proposed changes to the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper
Guild bylaws. Changes are represented in bold for additions;
strikethru for deletions. Passages where the only changes
are to substitute "Council" for "Executive Council" and "TNG-CWA"
for "TNG" are not always provided.
[The proposals will be reviewed at the Nov. 3, 2001 membership meeting.
Further amendments can be recommended at the meeting; all proposed
changes will be presented to the entire membership for ratification.]
The
Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (hereinafter called the Local)
shall be governed by the Constitutions of The Newspaper Guild-CWA
(TNG-CWA) and the Communication Workers of America (CWA),
its their policies adopted in Sector Conference
and International Convention, respectively, and the following
bylaws, which are supplementary thereto.
ARTICLE
I - STRUCTURE
1.
The General mMembership shall be the supreme authority of the
Local. This authority shall be exercised in elections, referendums
and the General Membership Mmeeting.
2. The Executive Council (Council) shall be the administrative,
legislative and policy-making body of the Local as provided
herein, subject to the authority of the General Membership.
3.
Units established by the Local shall exercise only those functions
and powers specifically granted by the TNG-CWA and CWA
Constitutions and these bylaws.
ARTICLE
II - MEMBERSHIP
1.
Any applicant for membership shall submit his/her application
to the Council. and fFinal action upon
any application shall be by the Council, subject to appeal,
as provided by the TNG-CWA Constitution.
2. Regular meetings of the General Membership shall be held
in January, March, May, September and November on the second
Wednesday of such month unless otherwise designated by the Council.
The January and March meetings shall be held in Baltimore;
the May and November meetings shall be held in Washington, and
t Two of the meetings will be held in Baltimore. The
location of the September meetings shall be determined
by the Executive Council.
3.
The Secretary shall give no less than 15 days' notice by mail
and/or e-mail to the membership in advance of every membership
meeting, except that in an emergency the Council may call a
special meeting on two days' notice. Notice shall be given my
mail and/or e-mail, except that in units which by contract
are entitled to use bulletin boards in the shops, notice may
be given by hand distribution of written notices to members
in the shops, such notice also to be posted on bulletin boards.
No motion to reverse or review previous decisions of the General
Membership, or Executive Council shall be acted
upon unless a notice of such motion signed by at least fifty
(50) members in good standing who include members from three
or more units shall have been submitted by the Secretary in
advance of the distribution of the notice of said meeting. In
the event a notice to move for such a review or reversal is
so submitted, the Secretary of the Local shall include this
notice in the of the meeting.
4. A quorum at any General Membership meeting shall be fifty
(50) members in good standing. Business may be conducted
at any meeting for which official notice has been given.
5.
No persons actively serving the interest of employers or another
labor organization as against the interests of the Guild or
CWA shall be eligible for membership.
6. When an individual has employment within a bargaining unit
of another local and not employment within a bargaining unit
of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, that individual
shall not be a member of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper
Guild.
ARTICLE
III - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. President [No changes]
2.
Vice President [No changes]
3.
The Treasurer shall:
a.
Be custodian of all Local funds.
b.
Cause to be kept in orderly fashion all fiscal records of
the Local and cause to be made all financial reports required
by the TNG-CWA.
4. Secretary [No changes]
5. The Administrative Officer shall be the principal paid employee
of the Local, under the immediate supervision of the Council
elected officers. He/she shall:
a.
Not be a member of the Executive Council.
b.
Plan, shape and direct the organization and negotiation program
of the Local under the supervision of the Executive Council
elected officers.
ARTICLE
IV - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1.
The Executive Council of the lLocal shall consist
of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer; five
(5) members in good standing elected at large; the Unit
Chairperson or alternate from all units having 50 members or
more in good standing; and one (1) delegate for each
200 members in good standing from each unit; and one (1)
delegate for each 50 members in good standing from the combined
total of all units with fewer than 50 members, plus at large
members, This representational formula shall also apply
for all units of under 50 members and all at-large members when
added together, the delegate(s) to be elected by the small
units and at-large members. The Immediate Past President shall
be a non-voting member of the Council.
2.
The Council shall meet at least once each month but shall be
subject to call of the President on written request by a majority
of the Council. A majority of the Council shall constitute a
quorum. In the event of a mail, e-mail or telephone poll
of the Council on an emergency question arising between meetings,
the action taken shall be subject to review at the next Council
meeting. Any five members of the Council may demand an emergency
meeting of the Council to consider the matter on which a mail
or telephone poll is taken. In the event of such demand, the
meeting shall be held within two days or the action deferred
to the next Council meeting.
3. The Council shall: [No changes to a. through f. of Section
3.]
g.
Fix the pay of, employ, and dismiss the paid staff
of the Local and supervise the activities of the Administrative
Officer, and approve the employment agreements of and dismiss
the other paid staff of the Local.
ARTICLE
V - ELECTIONS
A. Election of At-Large Officers, TNG-CWA Sector Conference
Delegates and Alternates, CWA Convention Delegates and Alternates
and Delegates and Alternates to Labor Bodies
1. The at-large officers of the Local and at-large members
of the Council shall be elected annually every
two years by secret ballot. They shall take office on a
date set for the January General Membership meeting and shall
hold office until the scheduled date of the following
January meeting two years following.
2. Nomination of at-large officers and at-large members of
the Council shall be received from the floor at the November
General Membership Meeting. Nominations may also be received
by petition of a minimum of twenty-five (25) members in good
standing from at least three units of the Local who shall
file their petition with the Secretary no later than fifteen
(15) days after the floor nominations have been officially reported
in the Guild Forum to the membership. In the event
that, following the petition period, there is no contest for
any office, the local Elections and Referendum Committee,
hereinafter established, shall declare the nominee or nominees
for that office elected.
3.
If a nominee is neither present at the November meeting nor
indicates in writing his/her willingness to accept nomination,
the Secretary shall inform him/her of his/her nomination in
writing within three (3) days. The member shall accept in writing
within seven (7) days or else be disqualified.
4.
A local Elections and Referendum Committee shall be named by
the Executive Council at least annually. This committee
shall prepare the ballot form listing candidates for each contested
office in alphabetical order and the unit to which each candidate
belongs. There shall be no write-in balloting. A sample ballot
shall be published in the Guild Forum distributed
to members at least fifteen (15) days prior to the election.
A Council member shall chair the committee. The president
of the Local shall be an automatic ex-officio member of the
committee.
5.
Balloting shall be as provided in Article XI of these bylaws.
Each member shall be notified by mail or other means
at his/her home address, at least 15 days prior to the
election, of the time and place of the election. The election
shall be held no later than 10 days before the January membership
meeting.
6.
If there is only one candidate for an office, he/she shall be
declared elected without balloting. In the event there are more
than two candidates, a majority of those voting shall be required
to elect, except in the case of the at-large Council members
where the candidates to the number of positions to be filled
receive the highest number of votes shall be elected. In
the event of a tie vote for an office there shall be a runoff
election between those candidates who received the same number
of votes, but higher than the other candidate(s) for the same
office. Such runoff election will take place no later than sixty
(60) days following the date of the Local Elections and Referendum
Committee's Official Ballot Count and shall be provided in Section
4 of this Article. Until a successor is elected, the incumbent
shall continue in office.
7. Candidates are entitled to publication in the Guild Forum
by the Local on an equal basis of statements limited
in length as the Council may direct after consultation with
the candidates.
8.
Delegates and alternates to regular TNG-CWA Sector Conferences
and CWA Conventions shall be nominated separately from the
floor at the March a General Membership meeting,
which shall also determine the number of each to be elected.
The secretary shall give fifteen (15) days' notice
9. In the event an at-large officer vacancy exists, the Council
shall at its next regular meeting appoint a temporary officer
to serve in the vacancy (except that in the event of a vacancy
in the office of the President, the Vice President shall temporarily
serve in his/her stead) the remainder of the President's
term). Notice of the vacancy shall be given through the
Guild Forum by the Local and the General Membership
meeting following such publication notice shall
receive nominations form the floor and proceed to fill the vacancy
by secret ballot.
10.
The General Membership shall elect delegates and alternates
to such organizations with which the Local is affiliated that,
by their charter require election. Delegates and alternates
to all other labor bodies shall be appointed by the Executive
Council with the approval of the General Membership.
B. Unit Elections
1.
a. Each unit shall receive nominations annually every
two years at a unit meeting held not earlier than two
(2) weeks prior to the annual election of Local officers
first General Membership meeting of the year, for delegates
to the Executive Council, a unit chairperson, a vice-chairperson,
a secretary and such other offices as the unit shall,
with the approval of the Executive Council, create. A
unit may, with permission from the Council, conduct elections
with different term lengths.
b.
Notice of nominations and elections of unit officers and delegates
and alternates to the Executive Council shall be given
to members of the unit as provided in Article V A(5) of these
bylaws.
2.
Vacancies in the post of unit officers or Council delegates
shall be filled by nominations and secret ballot vote at the
next meeting for which proper notice can be given, but in
any case no more than three weeks after such vacancy occurs.
C.
Election Procedures
1.
The Council, with advice from the Elections and Referendum Committee,
shall establish a time and date for counting of the ballots
from any election, and give notice thereof.
2.
Upon such notice, each candidate has the right to name an observer
to the ballot count. Such observers shall carry out the functions
enumerated below.
3.
Observers shall have the following functions: To observe the
actual vote count and challenge any ballots they deem illegal;
to submit, in writing and notarized, any evidence of actions
that the candidates they represent believe would prejudice the
outcome of the election or evidence of irregularities the candidates
believe should lead to the annulment of the election, followed
by a rerun.
4.
The burden of proof shall be on the individuals making such
protests. Protests may cover actions both during the campaign
and the balloting. Protests shall be submitted, in writing,
to the chair of the Elections and Referendum Committee within
five working days of the ballot tabulation.
5.
When such protests are received, the chair of the Elections
and Referendum Committee shall, with the concurrence of the
committee, set a date for a formal hearing on such protests.
Such date shall be no later than 30 days after the date of the
election. The hearing shall include a court reporter, and the
burden of proof shall be on the protesting candidate, who shall
be allowed to call witnesses, under oath if necessary. The protesting
candidate must appear before the committee to make the case.
While the committee will make every effort to accommodate the
candidate, consonant with provisions of the TNG-CWA and CWA
constitutions, a candidate's failure to appear on the date set
by the committee, regardless of the reason, shall lead to dismissal
of the protest. The protesting candidate must notify the chair
of the committee, in writing, no later than 15 days before the
hearing, of the names of others mentioned in the protest, either
as witnesses or otherwise, to allow the committee to notify
those persons of their involvement, if they wish to appear and
respond. No later than 15 days after the date of the hearing,
the committee shall render a decision in writing, and transmit
it to the protesting candidate and the Council. The protesting
candidate shall then have the right to appeal the committee's
decision to the Council and beyond, consonant with provisions
of the TNG-CWA and CWA constitutions.
6.
Once a candidate has lodged a protest of an election, no ex
parte communications about compromise settlements shall be allowed.
ARTICLE VI - UNITS
1. Each unit shall establish a system of shop stewards from
the natural work divisions in each unit to assist the unit chairperson
in organization of new members and contract enforcement under
direction of the Executive Council.
2.
Units with fewer than 15 50 members in good standing
shall, by Council certification, be combined with at-large members
in good standing for purposes of representation on the Council
only.
ARTICLE
VII - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
1.
At least two six months prior to commencement
of bargaining for any Local contract, members of the unit involved
shall be invited to submit written suggestions. The unit officers,
in consultation with the shop stewards and Administrative
Officer designated chief negotiator, shall draw up
a proposed contract. This proposal shall be submitted for approval
to a unit meeting held on proper notice before submission to
management. All proposals must be approved by the Executive
Council. All proposals must be forwarded to TNG-CWA in
compliance with its Collective Bargaining Program.
2.
Negotiators shall be selected by the Executive Council, and
shall include members of the unit, but nNo negotiations
shall take place in the absence of the Administrative Officer
or other designated chief negotiator., named by the
Executive Council, who shall not be a member of the unit.
3.
Any agreement reached in negotiations shall be submitted to
the membership of the unit for approval. Before signing, it
shall require ratification also by the Executive Council.
4.
A unit shall seek permission of the Executive Council
before conducting a vote to authorize calling a strike. No unit
shall by its own action call a strike, but may by a vote
of its membership authorize the Executive Council to
do so, and the Executive Council shall call no strike
not authorized by a vote of the unit membership. In the event
a unit is denied permission to take a strike vote, that unit
may vote to authorize the International Executive Board TNG-
CWA Sector Executive Council Board to call
a strike.
5.
A shop steward believing an employee to be aggrieved shall report
the matter promptly to the unit chairperson or his/her designee,
who shall ascertain pertinent facts. The unit chairperson shall
in consultation with the unit grievance committee ascertain
management's position on the matter and shall report the matter
to the Administrative Officer Local's professional
staff representative assigned to that unit. No grievance
settlement shall be binding upon the Guild unless reported to
the Administrative Officer or to the Council his/her
designee. The settlement of grievances shall be subject
to ratification by the Council, and shall be subject to
appeal as provided in Article XIII of these bylaws.
ARTICLE
VIII - DISCIPLINE
Discipline
under these bylaws shall be governed by the TNG CWA
Constitution.
ARTICLE
IX - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
1. [No changes]
2.
The highest dues rate shall be determined by the highest reporter
minimum in any Local contract, excluding those contracts
negotiated with government agencies or nonprofit associations
at a daily newspaper with a Local contract. It shall
be arrived at by adding 35 cents for each $5.00 such top minimum
exceeds $200.00.
3.
[No changes]
4.
[No changes]
5.
[No changes]
6.
[No changes]
7.
[No changes]
ARTICLE
X - PUBLICATION
1.
The Guild Forum shall be the official publication of the
Local and shall be published under the supervision of the Council.
The Local shall maintain a site on the World Wide Web to
publish official notices and other news deemed in the interest
of union solidarity under the supervision of the Council or
its designated representative(s). The Executive Council
may authorize additional publications to supplement but not
to replace the Guild Forum strengthen the Local's interests
in specific units or councils within the Local.
2.
The Guild Forum shall be published as frequently as directed
by the Executive Council. The Web site shall be updated
as frequently as necessary by the Council or its designated
representative(s). It shall be distributed to all Local
members free of charge. It shall accept no advertising.
3.
Publication in the Guild Forum shall be considered official
notice to membership. The local shall notify the members
by U.S. mail of General Membership meetings over any 12-month
period.
4. Whenever possible, the Guild Forum shall publish the minutes
of all meetings of the Council and the General Membership and
shall maintain a letters column for free expression of views
by the members in good standing. Minutes not published in the
Guild Forum shall be promptly posted on Guild bulletin boards
in the units. The Web site shall include the minutes
of all meetings of the Council and the General Membership and
shall publish letters from members in good standing for free
expression of views. Minutes not posted on the Web site shall
be delivered to the units for prompt posting on Guild bulletin
boards.
ARTICLE
XI - REFERENDUM
1.
[No changes]
2.
[No changes]
3.
[No changes]
4.
[No changes]
5. Council or Administrative Officer's decisions regarding
staff issues, including hiring, dismissal, non-renewal of contracts
and discipline, shall not be subject to membership referendum.
ARTICLE
XII - AMENDMENTS [Blank]
ARTICLE
XIII - INTERPRETATIONS
These
bylaws shall be interpreted by the Executive Council, subject
to appeal to the General Membership or by referendum, to the TNG
International Executive Board, or to the next International Convention
of TNG TNG-CWA Sector Executive Council, or to the next Sector
Conference of TNG-CWA. Questions of procedure not covered by
the TNG-CWA or CWA Constitutions, Convention decision,
or these bylaws shall be governed by the latest edition of
Robert's Rules of Order (75th Anniversary Edition) except
as otherwise specified in these bylaws.
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