As always, negotiations remain locked over MediaNews' proposed outsourcing language.
A criticism of the latest round, written by P-T writer Joe Segura, includes the language under discussion.
"The subcontracting and/or outsourcing of work shall include but in no manner or degree be restricted to the sharing of content and services with other newspapers and media, the content provided by "citizen journalists," content provided through 'blogs' and other comments/opinions, the content and services purchased through outside services, syndicates and independent providers and any content contributed by non-partisan community/action groups."
Segura points out that the proposal "points to a flood of sources, many non-journalistic" to replace the traditional newsgathering process, consequently killing all job security for professional journalists working within MediaNews.
Unfortunately, Segura notes that the company is disturbingly committed to obtaining the right to replace jobs at will. They've refused to discuss wages until their proposal is accepted - essentially forcing employees to sacrifice their future for the present.
The bargaining team asked MediaNews rep Jim Janiga about the company's "ethical responsibility" to provide professional investigative journalism and writing of substance, but no mention was made of a response.
Talks continue, and the teams remains committed to preserving the job security of their co-workers and friends.
Monday, August 11, 2008
8/7 bargaining update
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42 comments:
Don't go away mad Feeny, just go away.
First of all if you are going to blame someone by name please have the guts to say who you are.... second, that post wasn't Fennstra and third who ever you are you did get something correct as in "just go away" your union hasn't accomplished anything in L.B., why come here to the Breeze?.... so please "union" just go away.
david.david.david. once you learn the spelling of "torrence" (torrance), the breeze will have outsourced your "work" to india, where they tolerate cow crap the way the breeze bosses tolerate you.
" our union sounds like a joke. The P-T staffers who are clinging to this mess should be ashamed! "
Explain what you mean by mess?
I smell Breeze management.
How long will and can Sanfield hold back the wolves?
Your Union leaders are never around. When I was at the PT during the life of the last contract people were leaving and positions ere frozen, besides your stewards no upper TNG members stopped in or even cared. If and when we get a contract we will never see them for the life of the contract.
Why have a union.
And don't blame it on small numbers its lack of vision and Ballz.
TNG has failed the newspaper industry.
How are the teamsters and where are they?
First of all if you are going to blame someone by name please have the guts to say who you are....
Says the anonymous guy, who's standing up for another anonymous guy, by telling someone else they don't have the right to be anonymous.
Cognitive dissonance much?
And if the Guild is so worthless, why is management so scared of them? I don't know about you, but after they stopped here I got dragged into a meeting with the boss.
teamsters.teamsters.teamsters. i would welcome them here in torrAnce only if they promised to change david the whiner's diaper.
After you change Joe S.'s Depends.
Why isn't the PT Advertising department unionized?
Probably because unionizing is a BAD idea!
Bad Idea? why?
Bad Idea? why? hAve you ever been in a union? or are you just republican.
Why do you assume that I am a Republican, just because I am against unions? I'm actually pretty liberal, but I don't agree with the concept of unionizing newsrooms. There are certain professions that unions are good for, but the news biz is not one of them. And to answer your question: yes, I have belonged to two different unions, so I am speaking from experience when I say UNIONS ARE BAD NEWS FOR NEWSROOMS.
jeff, stay in denver! just kidding, pal.
STOP CENSORING THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!
So your a Liberal republican?
What have you sen go wrong with unions in the newsroom? and why are they ok in other professions and not ok in the newsroom.
Sorry ( seen )
LOL, no you silly ninny. I am a democrat who happens to be opposed to unions in the newsroom. Period. It just doesn't work. Unions build a wall between management and employees. They also create a cluster-fuck mentality of "us versus them" that does not aptly serve anyone, especially in a business that should be merit and talent based.
You silly willy I don't understand what walls?
Its worked at hundreds of newspapers. What have you seen where it hasn't worked?
Management is free to give out merit raises and has at the PT. Non in 2008, two in 2007, and several in 2005-6. So it is merit based along with a an annual raise.
It obviously does NOT work at the PT because the workers have gone without a contract. Now, the workers look like bitter fools. Way to go, union.
Don't think unions belong in the newsrooms? Builds a wall between management and employees? Listen pal, thousands of journos and business-side professionals at places like the NYT, WP, AP, WSJ, SFChron, SJMN (and lots of other publications) disagree with you. Unions have been in newsrooms for over 60 years and helped to move employers from typewriters to laptops, rotary phones to wireless, wet darkrooms to digital. So you don't like unions. FIne. But you benefit from the labor movement every time you take off on your 2-day vacation EVERY week and get extra pay if you work over 40 hours a week. (If you don't, your boss is breaking the law.) Get a grip, pal.
I know the numbers over here at the Breeze and its 0 in sports and 2-3 in the newsroom and 2-3 reporters that have only asked questions about the union.
The union doesn't keep us from being fired, but it does put money (dues) into the union's pockets.
I worked a long time at the PT and the only time I saw the union was when the contract was up. Sad.
I have spoken more with Sanfield in my short time here at the Breeze than I ever did with mister "look at me I have a big office with a great view" Rich.
Quality conversation.
So go ahead and respond to my comment but you guys are the ones grasping at straws.
And stop making this so personal and bitter. Put as much effort in your work.
Dean singleton won't touch the Breeze while the Union at the PT exists.
Its in Singleton's best interest to satisfy the ( in his mind ) overpaid and over staffed newspaper so they don't go union.
So Breezers are better if the union stays at the PT, no matter what you think of them.
what is the PT set to get as a wage increase? Hope it's more than that 0 1 1 raise over the next 3 years.
"Dean singleton won't touch the Breeze while the Union at the PT exists.
Its in Singleton's best interest to satisfy the ( in his mind ) overpaid and over staffed newspaper so they don't go union.
So Breezers are better if the union stays at the PT, no matter what you think of them."
I agree 100%. Really I do. But how ultimately self defeating. Yay you!
" Yay you "
Listen I do agree that The Newspaper Guild has been non existent on the West Coast and has been weak in action regarding the country's 100 largest newspapers where more then 6,300 employees were laid off or bought-out in the past year – more than half of them since the beginning of June.
But again I don't want to harp but please again but can you answer the question and explain what you meant by walls and I'm sure out of your VAST experience with unions you have examples of walls.
The response from Aug. 13, 5:32 pm, is the kind of holier-than-thou, cluster-fuck bully mentality that I was referring to. Thank you for proving my point. Personally, I don't want to be involved with your bitter drama, "pal." NO UNIONS AT THE BREEZE NEWSROOM!
Wow, so no answer again.
I smell management
NO UNIONS AT THE BREEZE NEWSROOM!
NO UNIONS AT THE BREEZE NEWSROOM!
NO UNIONS AT THE BREEZE NEWSROOM!
That rotten stench is your union's decay.
Your not answering the question speaks volumes.
This thread has become really juvenile and embarrasing. Anonymous message-board bullying on both sides is pathetic. Just my opinion...
I think the PT's union is what has become juvenile and embarassing. Just my opinion.
Dear anonymous: Thanks for thinking of us so highly. By the way, our union isn't some outside entity. It's the PT writers, photographers and circulation workers. Sorry you feel our desire for a better wage and some job security is "juvenile and embarassing."
Your desire is not what's embarassing and juvenile. Your constant whining and useless tactics are what's embarassing and juvenile.
Um are gonna answer the question.
What walls do unions build ?
i think it would be difficult selling the breezette with the current "editor" prancing about, looking for ways of gutting the news operation. just a modest concern ... without an accent.
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