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

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

AN AFTERNOON WITH THE FUTURE.

AN AFTERNOON WITH THE FUTURE.

TO: ALL UNION TRIBUNE PRESS AND MAILROOM
PRODUCTION EMPLOYEES.


WE, THE COMMITTEE FOR BOTH THE PRESS AND MAILROOM, INVITE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE ON GOING CONTRACTS NEGOTIATIONS. WE ALSO WANT IN-PUT FROM YOU THE WORKERS ON THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE. WE WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO MANAGEMENT THAT WE ARE STRONG AND UNITED IN OUR FIGHT TO GET JUSTICE AT THE WORKPLACE.

THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD SERVED (PICNIC STYLE).

WHEN: MARCH 25, 2007 (1 P.M. UNTIL…)

WHERE: THE UNION HALL
10393 SAN DIEGO MISSIOM ROAD
SAN DIEGO CA. 91208

TELEPHONE: 619- 283-6788


COME OUT AND LET’S “CHAT AND CHEW”.

NOTICE FROM THE UNION

Graphic Communications Conference
of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
10393 San Diego Mission Road, Suite 207
San Diego, CA 92108-2176
Local 432 M

Phone: 619-283-6788
gciu432@yahoo.com
Fax: 619-283-8011

Dear Press & Packaging Employees,

A lot of questions have arisen a petition going around in the packaging department one of your co-workers. It is not a de-certification petition.There is already a de-certification petition pending with the NLRB and it will be dealt once the newspapers quits violating NLRB laws. If you are being told that this petition overrides the first one you are being lied to. If promises are being made to you to sign this petition please let your committee know and ask the person who is passing this petition around what has been promised to him by the newspaper.

It has also come to our attention that a company representative is asking potential new hires for Packager 1's if they are Union supporters. This illegal and will be investigated.

The NLRB ruled in favor of the newspaper regarding the charge over the palletizer. The Union has begun the appeal process and feels very strongly that we can get the Labor Board decision overturned. There are 2 other NLRB charges, JIT's and the Attendance Policy, that were ruled in the Union's favor but have not been officially settled because the newspaper won't agree to formal settlement.

There has been a long break in our negotiations due to the holidays and everyone's scheduling. We will resume negotiations the last 2 days of February and the 1st and 2nd day in March. The newspaper, we assume, will continue to want pay cuts, no seniority, have us pay more for health care, work you anywhere they want, when they want on any shift they want and so and so on.

This newspaper not only hates this Union but also will make workdays miserable and do what they can to financially harm our families and us.

People all over this country stand up on a daily basis to support their beliefs and causes but this company does not agree with this.

"If we dont's stand up to corporate greed in this country our kids and grandkids will be living in poverty."

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Your Bargaining Committees

2/5/2007