Committed to protecting its members. The Albany Newspaper Guild, chartered on March 20, 1934, is the labor union representing about 200 employees of the Times Union, the largest daily newspaper covering Albany, New York, and the surrounding Capital Region.
Operating as usual
Officers elected at the annual membership meeting.
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/09/10/officers-elected/
Ty Stewart was elected vice president of the Albany Newspaper Guild and David Johnston was elected as an At-Large Member of the local Executive Board at the local’s annual membership meeting. Ty an…
Update on Return to Building: Remote Work to Continue
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/09/01/update-on-return-to-building/
Remote Work to Continue The return to working in the building has been delayed. No return date has been set. That will depend on the developing COVID-19 situation Times Union management and the Gui…
Covid-19 Update: Notify Company of Vaccination Status
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/08/13/176869/
There is a week left to inform the Times Union whether you have been vaccinated against COVID-19. You are required to do this. The company sent out a notice earlier this week: “Between now and Augu…
Covid-19 Update Return to Office Delayed — Get Vaccinated
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/08/11/covid-19-update-return-to-office-delayed-get-vaccinated/
The Guild and the Times Union agreed Wednesday that the return to office schedule would be delayed as the Capital Region leads the state in COVID-19 infections. The new schedule calls for those who…
Return to Office Delayed by Week
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/08/05/return-to-office-delayed-by-week/
The Executive Board decided Sunday that given the increasing COVID-19 infection rates that a meeting should be held to seek a delay in the return to the office. Exposure to the Delta variant is too…
The Albany Newspaper Guild membership unanimously approved a buyout agreement with the Times Union at a special meeting held Monday night, June 21, 2021. Executive Board Member Jeff Boyer will sign the agreement on behalf of the Guild Tuesday afternoon at the Times Union building.
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/06/22/buyout-approved/
The Albany Newspaper Guild membership unanimously approved a buyout agreement with the Times Union at a special meeting held Monday night, June 21, 2021. Executive Board Member Jeff Boyer will sign…
On Friday, June 18 raises will be included in this week’s paychecks for members of the Albany Newspaper Guild unit…
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/06/17/pay-raises/
On Friday, June 18, 2021 raises will be included in this week’s paychecks for members of the Albany Newspaper Guild unit. There will be retroactive pay back to the beginning of June. The raises are…
Special Membership Meeting — Monday, June 21 at 6 p.m. on Zoom: Vote on proposed Buyout Agreement
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/06/17/buyout-vote/
Special Membership Meeting — Monday, June 21 at 6 p.m. on Zoom The Albany Newspaper Guild and the Times Union reached a tentative agreement for buyouts to be offered to unit members. The Albany New…
The Guild met with the company Friday afternoon to discuss a potential buyout. There is a question of if it will be offered in all departments or limited to Advertising and Marketing. The company had said initially it was to be companywide and the Guild is insisting on this. The proposal follows previous buyouts: Minimum of 12 weeks pay with max of 62 weeks of pay....
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/06/11/buyout-update/
The Guild met with the company Friday afternoon to discuss a potential buyout. There is a question of if it will be offered in all departments or limited to Advertising and Marketing. The company h…
The company has asked to meet Friday with the Guild to discuss buyouts.
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/06/11/buyout-talks/
The company has asked to meet Friday with the Guild to discuss buyouts. The Executive Board was informed earlier this week about the contact from the company and advised again at the June meeting T…
Return to Office
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/05/27/return-to-office/
Stewards will be contacting you A Guild team recently met with the company to discuss the planned phased return to the Times Union building on Albany Shaker Road. This would be completed by the beg…
Guild Approves Severance Plan, Ken Crowe Elected Local President…
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/04/09/guild-approves-severance-plan-ken-crowe-elected-local-president/
The Albany Newspaper Guild membership unanimously ratified an enhanced severance plan at a special meeting held April 8, 2021 for circulation customer service workers whose jobs at the Times Union …
Circulation Talks Update: Friday, a Guild team met with company representatives to discuss the outsourcing of the circulation customer service representative jobs…
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/03/29/circulation-talks-update/
Friday, a Guild team met with company representatives to discuss the outsourcing of the circulation customer service representative jobs. The Times Union intends to send the work to a company with …
Special Vaccine Time Off: Under a new state law you are entitled to up to four hours off from work if you are getting the COVID-19 vaccination shot during the work day. You are entitled to this time off for each shot you get.
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/03/29/special-vaccine-time-off/
Under a new state law you are entitled to up to four hours off from work if you are getting the COVID-19 vaccination shot during the work day. You are entitled to this time off for each shot you ge…
There will be a special Guild Membership Meeting on Thursday, April 8 at 6 pm to fill the office of local president and for any other business that may come before the membership.
The Executive Board has called a special membership meeting for Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. to fill the office of local president and for any other business that may come before the membershi…
Local President Mandy Fries led her last meeting with the Company late Tuesday afternoon to discuss new jobs in the Editorial and Advertising departments.
The company will add five jobs in editorial and three jobs in advertising. The company had been looking at creating a separate digital product in eastern New York State. The Guild in consultation with the International had argued that this fell within our jurisdiction. The company has decided our hard work in developing the Times Union print and TimesUnion.com brands is where the positions belong.
Guild gains 8 jobs Local President Mandy Fries led her last meeting with the Company late Tuesday afternoon to discuss new jobs in the Editorial and Advertising departments. Mandy was joined by Vic…
My fellow colleagues,
It’s with mixed emotions I write to inform you I’ll be leaving the Times Union to take a reporting position closer to home.
I know my departure comes at a critical time for the Albany Guild, and my decision was not made lightly, but I hope you will carry on the good work we’ve been doing in my absence. We have built momentum even during a pandemic, and the myriad efforts we have going will continue after my departure.
My fellow Executive Board members as well as the stewards are fully committed to seeing through several of the efforts that remain ongoing, including a remote work policy; finishing the pay study; and continuing efforts to improve diversity and inclusion at the Times Union.
I hope that more of you will see the value in the Guild’s work and join your colleagues in supporting these efforts. As I’ve often said, the union is ALL OF US, and to truly bring about change (and, yes, a new contract), the Guild will need everyone’s help. Our voices are stronger together.
My last day at the Times Union will be Friday, March 12. We will have a regular Executive Board meeting on Thursday, March 11, which I’ll attend, and we will go over the transition process. Ken Crowe, who has served most recently as vice-president, has agreed to step into the role in the interim.
Always in solidarity,
Mandy
My fellow colleagues, It’s with mixed emotions I write to inform you I’ll be leaving the Times Union to take a reporting position closer to home. I know my departure comes at a critical time for th…
The quick action and mobilization by the Albany Newspaper Guild Diversity Committee last week prompted Times Union management to issue a public response following outcry over the company's Black History Month ad solicitation strategy. Hours after the Guild went public Wednesday, demanding the company issue a sincere, public apology and offering several recommendations the company could consider to help repair the relationship between the news outlet and the Black community, Times Union Publisher George Hearst issued a statement apologizing for how the solicitation was received by some community members and indicated that proceeds from the special Feb....
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/02/15/diversity-committee-demand-prompts-quick-response-from-times-union-execs/
The quick action and mobilization by the Albany Newspaper Guild Diversity Committee last week prompted Times Union management to issue a public response following outcry over the company’s Bl…
The Albany Newspaper Guild Diversity Committee has called on Times Union management to immediately issue a public and sincere apology following public outcry over the newspaper’s ad solicitation strategy for Black History Month. Members of the Capital Region on Friday, Feb. 5, received an email from the newspaper’s advertising department about the planned Black History Month special section, offering advertising space in the section ranging in price from $875 to over $3,000. ...
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/02/10/diversity-committee-condemns-tu-black-history-month-ad-strategy-calls-for-public-apology/
The Albany Newspaper Guild Diversity Committee has called on Times Union management to immediately issue a public and sincere apology following public outcry over the newspaper’s ad solicitation st…
Labor leaders from Boston Globe, others talk union efforts this Thursday
https://albanyguild.org/blog/2021/02/08/labor-leaders-from-boston-globe-others-talk-union-efforts-this-thursday/
Reporters and labor organizers from the Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News and the Billings Gazette will share their stories on bringing coworkers together to form a union and rally support for work…
Time Off Advisory:
Members are asking questions about taking vacation and the five bonus personal days for this year…
Members are asking questions about taking vacation and the five bonus personal days for this year. 2020-21 Vacation You have until April 15 to use any remaining vacation time from last year. Our va…
The Guild has agreed to a Times Union plan to pay some members of our bargaining unit a 1 percent bonus in the Jan. 29, 2021 paycheck.
The bonus payment is similar to one made in 2020. There will be a minimum payment of at least $350.
The qualifications set by the company to receive the bonus payrment are you must be hired before October 1, 2020, you must have worked at least 1,000 hours in 2020, you must still be working at the company and you must not be on any sort of commission/bonus plan.
President Mandy Fries responded to the company to say Guild would not bar our bargaining unit members from receiving the bonus payment.
“However, notwithstanding this agreement, the Albany Newspaper Guild is not waiving its representational rights nor its legal right to bargain over the terms and criteria of the Hearst Bonus Plan,” Mandy stated in closing.
The Guild’s Executive Board discussed this bonus at its monthly meeting. The Guild remains committed to securing our first pay raise since Aug. 1, 2007 and is working to obtain a raise for all unit members.
The stewards will be checking in with everyone in the weeks ahead. Please let us know your thoughts.
Yours in Solidarity.
The Guild has agreed to a Times Union plan to pay some members of our bargaining unit a 1 percent bonus in the Jan. 29, 2021 paycheck. The bonus payment is similar to one made in 2020. There will b…
It’s been a busy autumn as nearly all of us continue to work remotely. The Guild anticipates that remote work will continue to be the rule as the coronavirus pandemic continues to roll up higher numbers of people infected…
It’s been a busy autumn as nearly all of us continue to work remotely. The Guild anticipates that remote work will continue to be the rule as the coronavirus pandemic continues to roll up higher nu…
The members of the Albany Newspaper Guild unanimously approved a voluntary buyout agreement with the Times Union at an emergency membership meeting on Thursday Oct. 22.
The agreement will allow members of our unit to apply to leave the company with a lump sum payment based upon years of service with and equivalent amount of health insurance.
The deadline to apply for the buyout is Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. If you have questions regarding the buyout please contact a Guild officer or steward. You may also contact the human resources office which is accepting the applications.
The members of the Albany Newspaper Guild unanimously approved a voluntary buyout agreement with the Times Union at an emergency membership meeting on Thursday Oct. 22. The agreement will allow mem…
Guild Update:
• Health Insurance stays on MVP for 2021.
• Buyout talks will take place on Monday. The Company said these are voluntary buyouts and that there would be no layoffs.
The Guild met with company representatives Thursday to discuss health insurance. Besides learning about the rates for 2021, we heard that the Hearst Co. has approved across the board buyouts in th…
The Guild has heard from many members about concerns in going back into work inside at the main plant. We’ve also heard from people who are looking forward to getting back to their desk after leaving it behind in mid-March.
If you have concerns about going back in, please us know. Guild representatives are prepared to talk to the company on your behalf.
The Guild has heard from many members about concerns in going back into work inside at the main plant. We’ve also heard from people who are looking forward to getting back to their desk after…
The Guild has worked vigorously since the coronavirus pandemic struck to obtain information from the Times Union and to make suggestions in the spirit of cooperation and more importantly to protect everyone’s health.
The Company will soon be issuing information about a Health APP to be used on smartphones for a daily check of everyone’s health when dealing with COVID-19…
The Guild has worked vigorously since the coronavirus pandemic struck to obtain information from the Times Union and to make suggestions in the spirit of cooperation and more importantly to protect…
Times Union management has dismissed the Guild’s calls for an inclusive and transparent process in building a company constituted Diversity Committee…
Times Union management has dismissed the Guild’s calls for an inclusive and transparent process in building a company constituted Diversity Committee. After learning managers were quietly picking i…
Albany Newspaper Guild reps toured the main office on Albany Shaker Road Thursday with Dan Couto, vice president of operations, to see how the deep cleaning has gone to prepare for going back inside…
Albany Newspaper Guild reps toured the main office on Albany Shaker Road Thursday with Dan Couto, vice president of operations, to see how the deep cleaning has gone to prepare for going back insid…
890 3rd St
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12206-1682
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