Deal would expand transfer rights

Journal Sentinel newsroom employees would be able to appeal involuntary transfers to different shifts under a tentative agreement reached last week.

During contract talks Thursday and Friday, negotiators for the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild and Journal Sentinel Inc. agreed that staffers who are required to change shifts should have the opportunity to apply for other newsroom positions, discuss other options with their supervisors and appeal directly to one of the top two editors. Those rights already apply to other major changes of duties against an employee’s wishes.

Bargainers also agreed to add new language to clarify the definition of an involuntary transfer. Management negotiators did not accept Guild proposals to prohibit involuntary transfers across journalistic specialty lines (such as from reporter to copy editor); require mutual consent for transfers from the Madison or Washington bureaus to the Milwaukee area; and give employees more of a choice about filling in for managers.

We also discussed contract provisions dealing with ethics, diversity, discrimination, harassment, overtime, leaves of absence, performance evaluations, training, columnists and union jurisdiction. The next bargaining sessions are set for Sept. 10, 11 and 12.