Friday, February 29, 2008

UPDATE:Letter from the Union GCC/IBT 432M

To: All Packaging Department Employees

The Company and the Union met for negotiations on February 25, 2008. The Company delivered a letter to the Union saying they were "withdrawing recognition" because the majorityof the employees no longer wished to be represented by the Union.

Local 432M is in process of filing unfair labor practice charges over this action by the Employer. As you all know, the Employer has drag its feet and made proposals for nothing but take away conditions since the Union was certified. We believe this is bad faith bargaining on the Company's part and are challenging Company's actions.

In addition the Union Tribune has from the inception of the Union's organizing efforts, made a major issue of impasse and what you could lose in impasse.

Recently the Employer threatened to post conditions that would substantially diminish the wages, hours and working conditions of each every Employee in the Packaging Department. After having communicated this to the employees is it any wonder that employees signed a petition saying that they no longer wish to be represented by the Union?

We will keep you updated on the board charges, In the interim, we suspect that the UT may institute changes in your working conditions. We don't know what areas these changes may occur in but they may be in things like discipline for attendance occurrences, sick leave and vacation. If you detect even the slightest change in how the employer applies any of these or its policies to you, please let one or more members of the bargaining committee know so that when we are succesfull with our NLRB charge we can straighten out these unilateral changes at the bargaining table.

Fraternally,
GCC/IBT Local 432M

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Rise and Fall of the Copley Press

When Ira Clifton Copley of Aurora, Illinois, first saw San Diego on a trip with his ailing brother to the Hotel del Coronado in 1891, it was a dingy town on the southern fringe of California, a quick stopover on runs to the Mexican border, a bordello-filled paradise for Pacific Fleet sailors, a dead end for the railroad, a place of palm trees, whitewashed wood-frame cottages, and a blinding sun.
(Story continued on this site)
















Watch this: Aguirre Faces Off With Reporter
NBC 7/39 Special Report
City Attorney Mike Aguirre got into a lengthy disagreement with a San Diego Union-Tribune reporter on Monday

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Union-Tribune packaging workers protest outside newspaper

from UNION-TRIBUNE
6:02 p.m. February 26, 2008

Packaging workers at The San Diego Union-Tribune who have been trying to negotiate a union contract for the last two and a half years protested Tuesday outside the newspaper's Mission Valley offices and demanded that management return to the bargaining table. Read More>>>

U-T packaging workers protest, seek talks

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Workers Memorial Materials Available Online Now

Each year, thousands of workers are killed on the job and millions more are injured or become ill because of their jobs. This April 28, workers in the United States and around the world will honor those killed and injured on the job and call for improved workplace safety on Workers Memorial Day.Read more>>>

BOYCOTT:The San Diego UT

San Diego Politico: Boycott the San Diego U-T
Protest @ Union Tribune Newspaper
Rally to protest wage cuts and health care takeaways from union-tribune employees

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Union Update Letter (eCopy)

Dear Packaging Employees:

Enclosed is a copy of the company's proposal that they want to implement. They want to cut all the operators pay to $ 13.00 per hour and the packagers would make $10.00 per hour. They want you all to start paying 30% of your insurance premiums for a single plan and if you want to cover your family you will have to pay 100% of that cost. The second year you will have to pay 40% plus 100% for your family. Starting the third year you will pay 50% and 100% for the family.

We are outraged at this attempt to destroy your family and You should be too!

Your hard work makes millions of dollars for this Newspapers and this is how they reward you. After this pay cuts and insurance increases how will you pay for your family's house payments and bills?

If your children or family members becomes sick how will you be able to pay for their health care?

This newspaper does not care what happens to you or your family?

We can stop this but we must work together!

We must demand a fair days pay for a pay days work!

While company profits continue to rise your pay will be cut by 40% at a time when the cost of living is higher than ever.

Let's all stand together and fight back!

Employee meeting: Sunday February 17, 2008
Where:10393 San Diego Mission Road #207
Time: 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 6:30PM

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Saturday, February 16, 2008

'North County Times' Offers To Buy Out 20 Newsroom Staffers

By Joe Strupp Published: February 14, 2008 10:55 AM ET

San Diego: The North County Times of Escondido, Calif., an 86,000-circulation daily, is seeking 20 newsroom staffers to take a buyout package offered late Wednesday, according to a memo from Editor Kent Davy.

The memo, obtained by E&P, says the buyouts are a result of "turbulent economic winds" plaguing the newspaper industry."Unfortunately, the stiff headwinds now require us to significantly shrink the size of the newsroom," Davy writes. "

Accordingly, we are seeking voluntary buyouts from up to 20 of our staff members."According to another document sent to employees with the memo, the buyouts are available to editorial employees only.

Those who choose to take the offer must decide by Feb. 25.The offer includes one week's salary for every year of service up to 26 weeks. The paper is owned by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

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