Union News & AnnouncementsTO: P. Steven Ainsley, Publisher
Gregory L. Thornton, Sr. Vice President
Harriet E. Gould, Vice President
FROM: Daniel B. Totten, President
RE: Layoff of Boston Newspaper Guild members
While The BNG has suffered vastly disproportionate layoffs compared to Globe management/exempt, we were hopeful you heard us late last week when we stated this fact.
Further, The BNG reiterates its request for severance pay for laid-off part-time members.
As The Globe is fully aware, freelance reporters and photographers continue to do work that should be assigned to BNG members. In fact, the use of freelance reporters and photographers seems now at an all time high.
The value, professionalism, dedication and quality brought to The Boston Globe by part-time members through their many years of service is beyond reproach.
While part-time severance is not a contractual obligation of The Boston Globe, such severance has been proposed by The BNG in negotiations for years and dismissed for years by The Globe.
We are hopeful The Globe will do the right thing and provide severance for part-time members impacted by layoff, as was done in the Living Arts layoff of last fall.
The BNG requests some semblance of gratitude for quality of service provided by Guild members to The Globe.
The BNG is available to discuss this matter at any time. We look forward to your response.
cc: D. Wanger
March 30, 2009