Kroger holiday certificates to be $50

All: A quick note that will foreshadow, somewhat, our upcoming print Inkling. These are items that are too good to wait, and came during our quarterly Guild membership meeting on Oct. 27:

*Congrats to Adam Yates, a nightside online producer who wasunanimously voted in as new secretary, filling in Sylvia Halladay’s term through July 1, 2010. (Elections for our five officers will be held next year. The lineup now is Tom Spalding (business desk), president; Vic Ryckaert (police reporter) and DuJuan Carpenter (building services), vice presidents; Geoff Ooley (sports copy desk), treasurer and Yates. There were 10 witnesses present for the swearing-in.

*Given the tough economic times, officers and stewards voted to double the amount of money spent for holiday gift cards — to $50 instead of $25. Duespayers only, of course. You are more than welcome to “re-gift” them to one of our laid-off coworkers or, given our own 10% paycut, use it on yourself. We are in touch with most our departed colleagues if you need an address. E-mail Vic Ryckaert, who is in charge of the gift certificate disbursement. We expect them to get them to you in the November-December timeframe.

*We have decided to recycle/repurpose the fire-engine red “Negotiate don’t dictate” signs and are sending a batch to Sheboygan Press’ guild, for its contract negotiations have gotten underway with Gannett. Gannett as you may have heard is seeking a 15 percent pay cut for those workers and want to remove all but two weeks’ of severance for those workers. The same lawyer, Scott Feldman, who orchestrated Gannett’s unfair pay cut power play in Indianapolis is handling matters in that city. We have replacement desk tents for you, and we’ll reach out if we don’t see one on yours as we continue to push toward the next contract negotiations, in 2011.

Notice of 10-27 membership meeting

THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS GUILD
QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING (PER BYLAWS)
3:30 P.M. TUESDAY OCT. 27
325 N. DELAWARE STREET

AGENDA: APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY TO FILL TERM THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. FEEL FREE TO ATTEND (NOT MANDATORY!)

QUESTIONS: CALL TOM 340-7836 or E-MAIL US AT INDYNEWSGUILD70@GMAIL.COM

Contracts being distributed

Copies of the contract are in the process of being distributed across the Star empire. Most downtown employees should have received theirs and copies will be delivered Tuesday to employees at the bureaus and PPC will.

You can also download a PDF version of the contract.

10% cut in effect today

As many of you are painfully aware, the 10% pay cut went into effect today with the payroll for Sept. 18. The Guild has told management that we are examining the before-and-after hourly wage to make sure the calculation was done correctly, but please examine the numbers for yourself (using the Star Lawson website) and notify us if you see a problem (or ask us and we can help if you need it.)

We have notified Human Resources that it appears that the company did not correct the health-care deduction (for those who use Star insurance) but any overcharge will be reimbursed on future paychecks. Health care fees are based on your salary and there are four tiers — so if you fell a “tier” then the amount that you are charged gets reduced. We can help you on that too, if you need it.

• View the Gannett health insurance tiers (PDF)

Lastly, we apologize that the contracts have not been printed. Despite verbal promises from HR during the contract signing Sept. 2-3 that 500 copies of the contract would be printed and distributed within a week (the Star has traditionally printed them and bills the Guild for half) that task never got done, but a complaint to HR today got the ball rolling. We will let you know when they are ready, and also make a digital PDF available at all times on indynewsguild.com.

Contract is signed, copies to be distributed next week

Star Publisher Michael Kane and I signed the two-year contract this morning together in the fourth-floor board room, making the deal official. The company and Guild will split the cost of making 500 copies, which will be distributed early next week. The Guild is also putting together a “primer” or guide, so to speak, to address the changes to work conditions. Later, we’ll have a new printed Inkling that outlines our strategies for now through 2011. Also, we’ll be distributing new red triangle-shaped “desk tents” that read “Work the contract” on one side, and “10%: I Gave At The Office” on the other.

Michael met with me for nearly an hour as part of the signing. I reiterated to him that the staff is demoralized and divided over the 10% pay cut. I emphasized the Guild’s financial sacrifice. I asked that our unit be spared any additional impact should Gannett seek to get leaner or try and lower payrolls chain-wide now through 2011. And, I requested some type of staff-wide acknowledgment over our contributions — saving the Star $2 million, namely — that he agreed to consider. I didn’t receive all the answers I was hoping for, but he was courteous enough to listen to my questions. Send any thoughts or questions you have to me at indystar68@yahoo.com.

Lastly, IndyStar.com online producer Adam Yates, a steward who joined the bargaining committee earlier this year and was appointed secretary on the panel, will serve in that role on an interim basis until our next advertised meeting. He will be appointed to finish a term running through July 1, 2010. Congrats, Adam!

For Indy News Guild 34070 and the bargaining committee,

Tom Spalding
president