LOCAL ACTION

March 4 Executive Council meeting
(Minutes for the March 4 council meeting are expected to be approved at the April 8 council meeting.)

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

Jan. 9 General Membership meeting
(Minutes for the Jan. 9 WBNG membership meeting are expected to be approved at the March 25 General Membership meeting.)

Jan. 9 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.

Dec. 10 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.).

Nov. 14 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).

Nov. 14 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.

Oct. 8 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.

Sept. 12 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 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.

June 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Washington Post contract was approved.
* The council received reports about off-the-record negotiations at the Baltimore Sun and the AFL-CIO; at the labor-federation unit, the contract that expired March 31 remains in full force.
* The council received reports about ongoing bargaining at American Rights at Work.
* Council approved purchasing 90 tickets for "Labor Night" at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in a vacancy in a unit-position dispute at BNA.
* Council learned that the local has applied for a Burger/Marks grant for organizing.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for Aug. 4.

May 2009 General Membership meeting
* A lengthy discussion of strategic planning took place. The membership agreed that WBNG should move to a more "participatory model." A volunteer committee was set up to present a plan for the September meeting.
* Tentative plans were set for June and July units' steward training sessions.
* Budget committee was set up to get started on 2010 financial plan for local.
* Contract negotiations at AFL-CIO and at the Washington Post were discussed, as were the round of firings at the Baltimore Sun.
* For use in expenses associated with the recent and sudden firings at the newspaper, the membership approved drawing on the Sun all-unit fund for extraordinary expenses.
* Membership approved two-year contract at American Nurses Association, where pact had been ratified by unit members by 59-0 vote.
* It was announced that Tiffany Heath (AFL-CIO) has been elected to the Southern Disrict Council Human Rights Committee.
* Membership approved sending 19 delegates to TNG Sector Conference Freedom Fund reception (in Washington), and to reimburse delegates who cannot afford the $25 fee.
* WBNG membership approved spending $150 for ad in DC Labor Film Fest program; $100 for ad in DC Jobs With Justice "I'll Be There" awards ceremony program; and $75 for ad in Women of Color Coalition publication.
* An update was presented on the Tribune bankruptcy situation.
* Membership approved purchasing $250 worth of $5 tickets to "AFL-CIO Night at Camden Yards" for re-sale to members.
* The next General Membership meeting was set for Sept. 12 (10 a.m.) in the Washington office.

May 2009 Executive Council meeting
(The May 14, 2009 Executive Council meeting was called to order immediately after a three-hour General Membership meeting.)
* Delegate forms for the TNG Sector Conference and CWA convention were distributed and collected.
* The council discussed the WBNG staff contracts. A two-year contract for the professional staff was approved. A two-year contract for the OPEIU-represented staff was approved.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for June 11.

April 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Executive Director Cet Parks presented the financial report and noted the potential impact of the “significant layoffs in the newsroom” at the Sun.
* Council was updated on BNA contract-preparations, which are starting well before the Feb. 10, 2010, expiration date. The biggest issue is expected to be a company demand for employee payment toward health-care premiums.
* Council was updated on AFL-CIO contract talks. The Guild unit is seeking “a modified extension” of the current pact “with a wage reopener after one year” along with successor-clause language. The Guild also is proposing a management wage freeze.
* Council learned that the Post contract has been extended one month, to June 7.
* Council learned that the National Labor College Guild unit and management have agreed to a four-month contract extension.
* Miranda Nelson, the new representative to the council from the UFCW unit, was welcomed by board members.
* Board members were invited to an informal April 8 luncheon with Karl Hall of the Northern California Media Guild, a local that has transformed itself from a servicing-oriented modell to an organizing-oriented model.
* Local-wide steward training was scheduled for May 9 at Metropolitan AME Baptist Church. Council approved a contribution to the church for the use of its space.
* Council approved $300 to purchase program ad and two seats to Northern Virginia Labor Federation recognition dinner.
* Council approved contributing CWA’s recommended amount ($177, based on donations per capita) to the Eduardo Diaz International Solidarity Fund project.

March 2009 General Membership meeting
* The Front Page awards and Guild Service awards were presented. Awards Committee co-chairs Mark Gruenberg (WBNG secretary) and Angie Kuhl (Baltimore Sun) were saluted.
* WBNG President Mark Pattison read nomination letters for the Guild Service awards and made a pitch for the awards committee to have a full-time Baltimore-based co-chair in the future.
* Special guests, including TNG-CWA Sector Chairperson Connie Knox (Sun, retired) and WBNG  counsel Bob Paul, were introduced.
* Leftover food was donated to a Washington homeless shelter.

March 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Discretionary authority granted in the Washington Post “Community Journalist position” grievance.
* WBNG Local Representative Rick Ehrmann and American Nurses Association staffer Sheila Lindsay gave an update on ANA negotiations, where a contract expired Feb. 14. Employer has proposed a one-year wage freeze.
* The local's financial report was reviewed.
* Executive Director Cet Parks gave an update on talks at the Sun on issues such as subsidiaries and work on the Web site.
* Council approve an AFL-CIO bargaining committee of Amy Lampkin, Tiffany Heath, Jimmy Hyde, Ann Kelly, Bob Moses, May Silverstien, Hana Veselka, Steve Wilhite, and Cet Parks.
* Council members discussed the local's strategic plan. Each WBNG staffer explained the evaluations of each unit and its readiness towards becoming self-sufficient in various tasks, such as grievance handling if the local were to adopt an "organizing model." It was noted that the local's largest unit, the Post, is the least ready to adopt such a model as it is the unit that is most dependent on staff. WBNG President Mark Pattison said he would draft something to send to each unit about what they need to prepare themselves for steward training on both servicing and organizing.
* The next Executive Council meeting was set for April 6 in the Washington office.

February 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Council members heard and took part in a 90-minute presentation by TNG Sector Representative Bruce Nelson, who discussed WBNG’s proposal to convert to an organizing-oriented model, and identified and shared problems occurring during similar transitions in other TNG locals.
* Discretionary authority to arbitrate granted in the AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act field communicators grievance.
* Council approved spending $1,000 to help sponsor Black History Month programming at BNA.
* Council received an update on bargaining at the AFL-CIO, where there is a possibility of a contract extension.
* Council received an update on bargaining at the Washington Post, where a separation package in lieu of layoffs has been negotiated..
* Local Representative Josif Kahraman talked about an upcoming program Newseum program for online journalists and the opportunities therein for the Guild and for Post “print” newsroom staffers.
* Council approved sending Executive Director Cet Parks as a delegate to the CWA District 2 conference and Mark Pattison (Catholic News Service), Sheila Lindsay (American Nurses Association), and Connie Knox (Sun, retired) as delegates to the TNG Joint District Councils meeting April 17-19 in Minneapolis. Knox and Lindsay, as TNG officers, will be travelling on funds provided by the international union.
* Council approved $250 for purchase of tickets and a quarter-page ad for the Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO’s annual "Salute to Labor."
* A personnel caucus was held.

January 2009 Executive Council meeting
* Rich Bronson (BNA) gave highlights and analysis of a survey taken of BNA members in late 2008. A similar survey is planned for non-members at the Guild-represented shop. It is expected that this survey will be a model for future studies; one is being planned for the Baltimore Sun.
* Council discussed the local’s mission, including the proposal to transition WBNG from a service model to an organizing model. A representative of The Newspaper Guild is to attend a future Executive Council meeting to guide the local in its effort to change focus.
* Council received a report on WBNG participation on the Tribune bankruptcy creditors committee.
* Council approved a new contract at Jobs With Justice.
* Council received a report on bargaining at the AFL-CIO, where a contract expires March 31. The Guild is negotiating stronger language on protections for project-funded temporary employees and a no-layoff clause for employees with 10 years’ seniority. A modified contract extension is a possibility.
* Council received a report on bargaining at the Post (a six-month extension of the 2005-2008 agreement is set to expire on May 7). The Guild has been meeting with management on the integration of the newsroom and Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive. A trial run will begin in late February, with five WPNI employees working on the Sports news/copy desk.
* Council learned that layoffs have been announced at Change to Win.
* The Newspaper Guild is a co-sponsor with the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism of “the inaugural online journalism training conference” to take place March 30 at the Newseum in Washington. (Details can be found at the Online News Association Web site, journalists.org)
* Council members discussed the “Future of Media Jobs” conference held the previous weekend in Baltimore. The conference is to be the main topic of the Jan. 31 WBNG membership meeting.
* The At-Large Unit gave a report of its Jan. 5 meeting: Elected as delegates to the Executive Council were: Denise Riley (chair); Dan Duncan (vice chair); Bill Salganik, Barb Irwin (International Labor Communications Association) and Matt Losak ( National Labor College), with Marcie Lawrence (Department for Professional Employees) as alternate. The unit voted to have the term “Small Units and Members” be used interchangeably with “At-Large Unit.”

2008 Local Action

2007 Local Action