Source: theglobeandmail.com
Conrad Black and Warren Buffett have something in common – they both think newspapers are undervalued.
As newspapers across North America frantically build paywalls to charge their online customers and cut back on their publishing schedules and staff to reduce costs, the former publisher says there’s still value in the industry if it’s run the right way.
Source: mediaunion.ca
“This was a very hard round of bargaining because of the difficult financial condition of the company and the troubled state of the newspaper industry,” said Local President Mike Bocking. “The agreement reached is the best possible under the circumstances.”
There will be no wage increase in the first three years of the contract, which expired Nov. 30, 2010, and a 1% raise on Dec. 1, 2013.
Complete details of the agreement will be released at chapel meetings Thursday and at an information meeting Sunday, July 22, 11 a.m. at the Metrotown Hilton hotel. Voting will follow immediately after the meeting.
Final details on voting will be announced tomorrow.
Unit 7B – 1050 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, ON, K2C 3P1 Tel. 613-820-6545 Fax 613-820-4770 email: ong@cwa-scacanada.ca
Over the coming weeks, as the downsizing at the Citizen becomes a reality, much will be asked of Guild members.
It’s important to keep in mind all relevant clauses in the contract that apply to us.
Here’s a reminder of what some of your rights are under the collective agreement:
Overtime (Article 8.5.2) applies after 7 or 7.5 hours daily OR 35 or 37.5 hours weekly.
Overtime also applies to hours that are not scheduled two weeks in advance. The schedule must be posted not later than the Monday two weeks prior to the work week in which the work applies (Article 8.5.4).
All overtime must be pre-approved and must be filed for.
Many members may be assigned new duties. If you feel you need training to handle additional work, be sure to let your supervisor know. If there are still issues, please be sure to let an executive member know. It’s also important for each member to feel that their duties are relevant to their classification – are you being correctly compensated for the work you are doing? If you are temporarily working in a higher classification, you should apply for differential (Article 7.2.1).
If you have any questions or issues, please contact the Guild office or an executive member.
ONG Executive Committee July 17, 2012
No layoffs.
The Guild and the Ottawa Citizen signed an agreement July 5. The company has accepted buyout requests from 28 Guild members, and has agreed that no one will be laid off as part of the current job-reduction program.
The affected Guild members number as follows: 22 Editorial Department; 4 Building Services Department; 2 Reader Sales & Service Department.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and support.
If you have any questions, feel free to talk to any executive member.
ONG Executive Committee