Guild News

AP negotiator applications due Sept. 1

Kevin Keane — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:35:01 -0700

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The News Media Guild is accepting applications for a rank-and-file committee that will negotiate our editorial and technology unit contracts with The Associated Press starting in October.

Our contracts expire on November 30, 2008.

Guild member applications to serve on the negotiating committee must be RECEIVED by Sept. 1, 2008. Applications should be sent to Linda Johnson, Chairperson of the Representative Assembly, at ljohnson@newsmediaguild.org or Guild@newsmediaguild.org, fax at 212-840-0687; or by regular mail to News Media Guild, 424 West 33rd Street #260, New York, N.Y. 10001.

The Editorial and Technology Divisional Committees of the Representative Assembly will make recommendations to the Executive Committee, which will appoint the negotiators. There must be at least one Technology Unit member present at all TU bargaining sessions.

Negotiators must be willing to go on Guild leave during their time at the bargaining table. Their salaries, lodging, transportation, per diem and incidental expenses are paid by your union dues.

date:

2008-07-09 00:00

News Media Guild scholarships

Kevin Keane — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:56:17 -0700

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Scholarship applications are being mailed to all News Media Guild members. The Guild will be awarding two $2,000 scholarships and one $1,000 wild card scholarship. Responses must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2008 to qualify. The drawings will be made the following day.

The scholarships will be awarded by lottery to the following: Any Guild member or his/her spouse or partner, children, parents, grandparent or grand child, or other member of the nominating Guild member's immediate household. In the event of a change in status, the relationship at the time of the drawing will prevail.

Members may sponsor only one candidate. Prior winners cannot reapply.
If an individual is sponsored more than once, his/her name will be placed in the lottery only once. The name of each candidate's sponsors will be listed on lottery ticket.

Scholarship candidates must be enrolled full time or part-time in an accredited degree or certification program in an accredited, post secondary educational institution for the 2008-2009 academic year.

All winning candidates must provide proof of enrollment, such as a copy of a paid receipt for a current tuition bill before scholarship monies will be remitted. (For students on a multiple payment plan, proof of the initial payment is sufficient).

Please contact the union at Guild@newsmediaguild.org if you have questions.

date:

2008-07-07 00:00

Guild, AP meet to discuss health and safety

Kevin Keane — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:46:33 -0700

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Guild representatives met with The Associated Press on Friday to discuss issues relating to muscular skeletal disorders involving photographers and videographers along with repetitive strain injuries.

Article 32, Health and Safety, Section 7 and 8, provides training program terms that are designed to prevent injuries and recognize developing problems so treatment can be obtained. AP has contracted with Zurich Services Corporation to provide group training where attendance is mandatory or to meet with employees individually to make recommendations to prevent the injuries.

Zurich recommendations can include chairs, monitor risers, a new mouse, touch pads, gels, task lights, foot rests and document holders. AP has in the past provided some employees with voice activated computers if needed as an accommodation to perform their jobs.

AP policy says employees are not required to stay at their video display terminals for unreasonable periods of time, so they can rest their eyes and bodies.

The company provided the union with a list of seven bureaus that will be visited by Zurich this year to meet AP's commitment to conduct training in the 41 control bureaus from 2006 to date. It also provided copies of the reports filed by Zurich on its meetings with individuals, which includes a sheet on its recommendations for each person who was assessed.

Many staffers had problems with workstations that left them pressing wrists and arms against hard desk edges, had monitors at the wrong heights, had no phone headsets or didn’t have adjustable keyboard trays.

AP said managers notify all employees when Zurich is scheduled to be in the office and ask who wants their workstations assessed. Zurich will meet with them if possible, but staff scheduling, vacations and breaking news often prevents it.

AP said Zurich's recommendations are given to local managers who may or may not act on them. It said some accommodations, such as chairs, are ordered through New York and are provided promptly. AP said it has been unable to monitor local mangers’ responses to the recommendations, and is working on a system to do that. The Guild said it will reach out to the affected individuals to evaluate the program.

"The class and individual meetings are good, but meaningless if the recommendations aren't provided. We hope the managers have been responsive," said Don Ryan, chair of the committee. He added, "The company restructuring has our attention, but RSI injuries and the muscular and skeletal disorders suffered by staff carrying heavy loads remain an important health and job security issue. They can be career busters."

The Guild pressed to have the photographer injuries study agreed to during the last negotiations done by New York University. It should include a review of existing records, individual and group meetings, site visits, regular meetings with the Guild, management and the affected employees, static strength tests and heart rate evaluations. The issue is still open.

Representing the Guild were Don Ryan of Portland, Oregon, Linda Johnson of Trenton, Pat Turley of Chicago, Deputy Administrator Karl Jendretzky and Administrator Kevin Keane. Representing AP were Michelle Ehrlich, Sue Gilkey and Gail Holloman of Human Resources.

date:

2008-06-03 00:00