May 26, 2004

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BARGAINING BULLETIN #14

Guild-RFA Contract Talks Focus On Seniority

The last two contract bargaining sessions have focused on the role of seniority.

If there are layoffs the Guild wants employees with the most time at RFA to have the most protection. Layoffs would be carried out in order of seniority, with the least senior laid off first. RFA wants management to be allowed to pick and choose who would be laid off.

The two sides agree that those laid off should go on a rehire list. We want rehires also to be based on seniority.

Guild Chief Bargainer Paul Reilly emphasized the need for an objective gauge in deciding who gets laid off. He said that judging journalists is very subjective and different managers would have different opinions of the same person.

Reilly told RFA's bargaining team if they could come up with concrete, objective standards the Guild would certainly consider them. But Reilly also told RFA he's never seen such standards in judging journalists.

The two sides also have discussed contract language that would protect the work of Guild-covered employees. The Guild wants a provision that would bar the company from taking Guild work and giving it to managers or contractors.

And the bulletin board saga continues. RFA continues to insist that it control the union bulletin board(s). It also would bar anything "derogatory" from being placed on the board(s). That would include anything critical of RFA's treatment of employees.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday, June 3.

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