Guild wins in pension arbitration

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild has prevailed in an arbitration stemming from the grievance filed against Journal Sentinel Inc. over changes management made to the pension plan in 2006.

In a decision released Thursday, arbitrator Jay Grenig agreed with the Guild's argument that the plan changes violated Article 9, Section 1, of our contract because certain bargaining unit staffers -- new hires and part-time, non-vested employees -- were then excluded from pension plan coverage.

The Guild conceded that the company had the right to make changes in the plan, and a previous arbitration case upheld that. But the Guild argued that, under our contract language, the company was required to offer a pension plan that "will continue to cover employees..."

The company argued that it had the sole discretion under Article 9 to implement unilateral changes to the pension plan without having to negotiate with the Guild. Managers felt so strongly about the importance of this case that they hired a nationally known lawyer from San Francisco, who specializes in representing companies in union disputes, to handle their case.

In the end, arbitrator Grenig concluded that the company was wrong and that Article 9 of the Guild contract is not a "meaningless provision." He ordered the company "to offer employees excluded from the pension plan coverage effective May 1, 2006," and "to make those employees whole." Grenig retains jurisdiction in this matter to resolve any disputes that might arise over implementation of his order.

The Guild was represented by attorney Barbara Zack Quindel. Guild President Amy Rinard, First Vice President Greg Pearson, Board Member Dave Kirner, former President Jennie Tunkieicz and former negotiator Larry Sandler helped Quindel prepare the Guild's case. Pearson and Rinard testified at the arbitration hearing on behalf of the Guild.

2 elected, dues offer approved

Milwaukee Newspaper Guild members have elected two new Executive Board members and approved a limited-time offer for prospective union members.

At the local's January membership meeting, members elected day copy editor Karen Samelson as secretary and metro reporter Kawanza Newson to an at-large board seat. Samelson, our Human Rights Committee chair, will fill the term of metro reporter Sarah Carr, who left for a job at another newspaper. Newson, our former secretary, will fill Samelson's board term. Both had been appointed to their new positions on an interim basis before the membership meeting.

Also approved was a plan to stimulate membership by offering one month's free dues to each non-member who signs a union card, in addition to the one-month rebate already paid to the person who signs up the new member. The special dues offer, in conjunction with a membership drive, will be in effect for 90 days, starting Feb. 1.