Union News & Announcements

Nearly one year ago in June 2005, members of the Boston Newspaper Guild elected a new President and returned several incumbents to leadership positions in the midst of Globe management’s efforts to reduce the workforce through its self-described Streamline to Grow (STG) program.

Running unopposed in his first try for elective office, Daniel B. Totten was elected president of the 1,200-member BNG in the June 9 election, which had only one serious contest – the race for Vice President.

In that contest, Steve Richards, who was BNG President before deciding to run for Vice President in this year’s election, narrowly defeated challenger Mark Anastas by 33 votes – 235 to 202, with 454 members voting in the general election.

Other members of the newly elected seven-member Executive Committee included two other candidates who were unopposed: Patrice Sneyd, who was returned as Treasurer and Jenna Russell, who was re-elected Recording Secretary.

With little opposition, Mary Corbett, former Vice President, won one of the three At-Large positions, and Scott Steeves and Carl Younger were re-elected to their At-Large seats.

Mary Corbett has since elected to participate in the 2005 General Buyout. Corbett’s Executive Committee At-Large seat has been filled by BNG delegate Kathie Dalton of Classified Advertising. Additionally, since the election the Governing Board has welcomed several new additions to the team: Mark Anastas, Kim Blanton, Teresa Calderone, Barbara Campbell, Beth Daley, Andy Donovan, Richard Giedd, Jim Herndon, Justine Hunt, and Lisa Kocian.

Right after assuming office, Totten wrote letters to Globe management voicing the Union’s objections to management’s treatment of BNG-represented workers, its hiring of James Kilts to the New York Times’ Board of Directors, and the Globe’s efforts to gain worker support for its Streamline to Grow program, which the Union views as a strategy to significantly reduce the workforce and erode Union strength.

Related to workforce reduction, through Streamline to Grow I & II, the 2005 General Buyout and the complete outsourcing of our Maintenance department, we have said farewell to over 160 BNG colleagues.

We must treat this as what it is: union busting. Solidarity and communication are the keys to fighting these transgressions against your Union.

After a year and a half long research and analysis process, the Executive Committee and Governing Board unanimously decided in favor of moving to a full-time President rather than hiring additional staff in the form of an Administrative Officer.

The research and analysis included a complete economic and financial feasibility study, a survey of nearly 50 TNG locals and their officers as well as final interviews of 14 potential candidates for an Administrative Officer.

The long-standing BNG tradition of the President and Executive Committee maintaining direct responsibility for the daily administration of the Union is kept intact with the appointment of a full-time President.

The BNG Executive Committee is scheduled for its first session of contract negotiations with Globe representatives on Tuesday, May 30, 2006.

An update of contract issues and concerns will be discussed at the June 14, 2006 General Membership meeting to be held at IBEW Local 103, Freeport Street, Dorchester at 12:30-1:30pm and again from 5:30-6:30pm.

June 5, 2006