Author Archives: Vin Cherwoo

We keep AP working

BARGAINING: Guild, AP continue discussion of job security

News Media Guild bargainers met with The Associated Press on Tuesday for further discussions on the company’s job security proposal.

The Guild team was joined by the union’s attorney, Barbara Camens, at the table. Though details of the talks were off-the-record, the Guild team remains steadfast in protecting employees’ job security rights based on seniority.

Both sides will next meet on April 11.

Representing the Guild were Jill Bleed of Little Rock, Vin Cherwoo of New York Sports, technician Dave Herron of Seattle and Guild administrator Kevin Keane.

Representing the AP were Jessica Bruce, senior vice president for human resources and corporate communications; Keisa Caesar, human resources generalist and project manager; Steve Macri, AP’s attorney; Jean Maye, human resources director; and David Scott, deputy managing editor.

We keep AP working

BARGAINING: Cost of living increases to outpace AP wage proposal

Cost-of-living expenses are expected to easily outpace the salary increases proposed by The Associated Press, even before the company’s onerous health insurance increases are factored in.

A new cost-of-living calculator, created by Guild member and data journalist Justin Myers, is available below so members can see how they would be personally affected by the company proposal.

The company has proposed no salary increase in 2018 and instead a $1,000 lump sum. The company is also proposing 1.5 percent raises in 2019 and 2020.

News Media Guild bargainers met briefly Tuesday with The Associated Press negotiating team. Guild bargainers submitted revised proposals on additional departments and a union security clause. The Guild also pressed the AP on new management jobs that have been posted, and the company said that it does not intend to create new positions that would be excluded from the bargaining unit.

The Guild also told the AP it would present information next month in support of its proposal to add an economic differential for employees in Miami and Seattle.

Bargaining will resume March 13, when both sides will discuss job security.

Representing the Guild were: Jill Bleed of Little Rock, Vin Cherwoo of New York Sports, technician Ed Morsett of Denver and Guild administrator Kevin Keane.

Representing the AP were Jean Maye, human resources director; Keisa Caesar, human resources generalist and project manager; and AP’s attorney Steve Macri.



We keep AP working

BARGAINING: AP rejects Guild’s adjustable pension proposal

The News Media Guild on Monday proposed the adoption of an adjustable pension plan under which the the AP would merge its frozen pension plan into the The News Guild’s multiemployer plan. The move could save the company a significant sum on its funding obligations. However, the AP said it is meeting its funding requirements and preferred to retain its plan.

The Guild and the AP reached agreement on expanding the flexible scheduling option for employees who are primarily engaged in newsgathering. The option excludes regional desk editors, text editors, photo editors, video producers and breaking news employees, Nerve Center, Data Center, News and Research, Sports Agate and Corporate Finance departments. It requires mutual agreement by the employee and the complany, and can be ended with six weeks’ written notice.

The scheduling provision also includes the following language:

  • “The Employer agrees that the exemptions are intended to give the affected employee broader discretion in setting his/her own working hours and shall not be used to avoid payment of overtime. The Employer recognizes the need for and encourages exempted employees to take consecutive days off and ensure rest intervals of at least 12 hours.”

Representing the Guild were Jill Bleed of Little Rock, Ark., Vin Cherwoo of New York Sports, technician Ed Morsett of Denver, and Guild administrator Kevin Keane.

Representing the AP were: attorney Steve Macri; Sue Gilkey, global director of employee benefits; Ellen Fegan, vice president for internal audit; David Scott, deputy managing editor; Jean Maye, human resources director; and Keisa Caesar, human resources generalist and project manager.

New term of Executive Committee, Representative Assembly begins

The new term of the News Media Guild’s Executive Committee and Representative Assembly has begun.

Here is a list of the current officers, who will be serving three-year terms through Feb. 21, 2021.

NMG Executive Committee

President – Jill Bleed, AP Little Rock

1st V.P. – John Braunreiter, AP Milwaukee

Secretary/Treasurer, Vin Cherwoo, AP New York Sports

2nd V.P. – Mike Warren, AP Atlanta

3rd V.P. – Amanda Holpuch, Guardian New York

 

NMG Representative Assembly

AP Washington Area – Darlene Superville, Washington

AP New York City – Dan Derella, Photos

AP South – Meg Kinnard, Columbia

AP West – Kim Kruesi, Boise

AP Central – Noah Trister, Detroit

AP East – Jimmy Golen, Boston

AP Television – Mike Lennox, Los Angeles

AP Photographers – Lynne Sladky, Miami

Technicians – Dave Herron, AP Seattle

EFE – Jorge Banales, Washington

Guardian – Lauren Gambino, Washington

UPI – Vacant

 

NMG Representative Alternates

AP Washington Area – Lisa Dwyer-Shapiro, Washington

AP New York City – Larry Fenn, Data/Web Development

AP South – Terry Spencer, Miami

AP West – Janie Har, San Francisco

AP Central – Vacant

AP East – Mike Sisak, Philadelphia

AP Television – Melinda Ulloa, Washington

AP Photographers – Sue Ogrocki, Oklahoma City

AP Technicians – Ed Morsett, Denver

EFE – Vacant

Guardian – Tim Hill, New York

UPI – Vacant

(An alternate assumes the delegate position on the RA when a vacancy occurs.)