Union News & Announcements

In his recent “Memo from the Publisher,â€? Richard Gilman stated that his “primary disappointment about all that occurred in 2003 is that after three years we still don’t have a contract with the Guild.â€? Further, he referenced the recent completion of negotiations with the pressmen, and cited the commitment of that Union’s leadership to “sit at the bargaining table until the agreement was done.â€?

Some have read Gilman’s words as a thinly-veiled slap at the Guild leadership and a questioning of its commitment to get a contract.

Yet Globe management, for three years, has refused to alter proposals it knows are completely unacceptable to the Guild, proposals that could be devastating to the Guild, proposals no self-respecting Union could ever agree to.

For three years, Globe management has stood pat with its agenda to gain the right to lay off Guild members with virtually no regard to seniority and to gain the right to subcontract nearly half of the jobs within the Guild. The Guild Negotiating Team has made it clear on numerous occasions and in no uncertain terms that these proposals are unacceptable. Still, Globe management has not seen fit to change any of this language. And all the while, management holds contributions to our members’ Health Insurance Fund hostage.

Given this entrenched stance, it seems that management’s commitment to reaching an agreement – not the Guild’s – must be questioned.

Throughout these negotiations, the BNG has bargained in good faith and it will continue to do so. Progress has been made in recent sessions; the parties reached a tentative agreement on a 14-point package proposal January 6.

The BNG hopes the balance of the smaller issues that remain can be resolved in the next few sessions, allowing the parties to focus on the core issues of seniority, subcontracting, cross-selling, and funding for our health plan. The Guild Negotiating Team stands ready to do whatever it takes to bring these talks to a fruitful conclusion – hopefully sooner rather than later. But, of course, it takes two parties to reach a deal.

The Guild thanks the membership for its continued, strong support. We will need it more than ever in the coming weeks.

The Guild Negotiating Team

January 13, 2004