Butler returns to leadership post

Vince Butler, one of the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild’s most experienced leaders, is back in a senior role.

The local’s Executive Board has appointed Butler as a steward leader, overseeing contract enforcement, membership and mobilizing for the sports, JS Online and News Information Center staffs. He will fill the term of Jeff Maillet, who stepped down, citing time constraints. Maillet, an assistant sports editor, was in his fifth term as a steward leader.

Butler, a sports copy editor, previously served five terms as a steward leader, in addition to one term as a vice president, five terms as a board member and several stints on our bargaining committee. He was most recently a sports steward.

Pension case victory gives choices to workers

Journal Sentinel Inc. soon will be notifying more than 35 current employees who will be affected by a recent arbitration ruling.

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild prevailed in an arbitration involving changes that the company made to the pension plan in 2006.

In the spring of that year, the company announced that most employees on the payroll at that time could choose between staying in the existing pension program or shifting to a new plan similar to a 401(k) plan. However, other employees -- non-vested part-timers and all employees hired after May 1, 2006 -- were not given a choice. They were moved into the new plan.

The Guild argued that everyone should have a chance to make the choice. We also argued that the switch represented a change in benefits that should have been negotiated, and that it eliminated some from the existing pension program. The arbitrator agreed.

Now, the company will have to offer the choice between the traditional pension plan and the new plan to those who were not allowed to choose. This will affect 36 current employees in our bargaining unit -- 13 full-time and 23 part-time.

If you have any questions before or after you get more information about the choice, contact Greg Pearson.