A time to meet, a time to talk and a time to party

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild is providing three very different forums to respond to the latest grim financial news from Journal Sentinel Inc.

A recent letter from Publisher Betsy Brenner said the company would seek wage freezes and raised the possibility of unpaid one-week furloughs. It's important for all Guild-represented workers to understand that all such proposals will be subject to negotiation, and that our Bargaining Committee will fight for the best deal possible for newsroom employees. Contract talks are expected to resume in the next few weeks, after being on hold since November.

All Guild members are encouraged to discuss the situation at our quarterly membership meeting at noon Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the meeting room upstairs at Turner Hall. Guild officers and negotiators will provide the latest information, offer a look at what's ahead and listen to members' concerns. Lunch will be served.

Then, to ease the tension a bit, the Guild's Winter Bailout Party is set from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in the upstairs party room at Bootlegger's, 1025 N. Old World 3rd St. Everyone in the bargaining unit, both members and non-members, is invited to bring a guest to enjoy a buffet and drinks.

Finally, to help the company navigate through the financial crisis, the Guild is sponsoring a brown-bag forum at noon Wednesday, March 4, in the second-floor training center. Everyone is invited to brainstorm ideas for Journal Sentinel Inc. to raise revenue.