Grievances & Arbitrations

Grievance/arbitration update: February 18, 2005

The BNG sent to arbitration a grievance filed on behalf of former Globe employees who did not receive retroactive wage increases for hours they worked in 2001. All of the affected former employees left the Globe as part of the buyout that year.

The Union sent to arbitration a grievance over the calculation of sick time for employees on a four-day work week. The Company's position is that sick time is actually allotted based on hours, not days, so that 10 sick days are the equivalent of 75 sick hours (10 days times 7.5 hours per day); hence, an employee on a four-day work week who calls in sick would use 9.375 hours of his/her sick leave allotment, leaving him/her with a total of 12 single sick days instead of 15. The Union maintains the contract language does not distinguish between four-day-week workers and five-day-week workers, and that all full-time members are entitled to 15 single sick days.

Also sent to arbitration was a case in which a Reporter has been forced to work out of classification, changing his schedule against his wishes; and a challenge to the Editorial policy limiting the political and other charitable contributions of Union members.

Grievances:

A grievance was filed on behalf of a part-time Advertising Designer who had his hours reduced unfairly.

A grievance was filed on behalf of an Inside Salesperson who was suspended for allegedly leaving work an hour early without permission. The parties agreed to a compromise in which the grievant recovered most of the lost time.

A grievance was filed on behalf of a Computer Operator who was bypassed for a shift change despite his seniority status. The parties agreed to revisit the issue in April.

March 7, 2005