Albany Guild In 'Biggest Battle Ever' With 'Times Union'

By: Joe Strupp The Albany (N.Y.) Newspaper Guild is engaged in a major boycott campaign again the Times Union that has included ads in three local newspapers, a billboard campaign and a new Web site urging readers to fill out subscription cancellation cards.

Guild President Tom O'Brien calls it "the biggest battle we've ever had since a strike in the 1960's."

At issue is the Times Union's decision in April to cancel it contract with the guild unit that represents about 240 of the newspaper's 450 employees. The move followed nine months of negotiations that failed to produce a new labor contract, the Times Union has reported.

Publisher George R. Hearst III said at the time that the cancellation followed proper notice and came "after making every effort to reach an agreement at the bargaining table." He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

O'Brien said the newspaper has since proposed a new contract that includes two controversial elements. One is a change in layoff policy that disregards seniority, while the other allows the newspaper to outsource any guild jobs. "We have offered concessions on the seniority and the outsourcing, buy they said no," O'Brien said.

The proposed contract, which is to be voted on June 14, also includes a $500 bonus for 2009 and another $500 bonus inn 2010, O'Brien said. But he adds, it also includes a 5% health care premium increase in 2010.

"Legally, they had the right to cancel the contract," O'Brien said. "But they opened the door to boycotts and picketing."

Such action began in early May when the guild began running ads urging a boycott in three local papers: The Legislative Gazette, which covers the state government; The Spotlight Newspapers, a group of weeklies; and the alternative Metroland weekly.

A Web site, www.cancelthetu.com, also was launched. It provides images of different ads urging boycotts of the paper that are similar to those running on an electronic billboard in the Albany area. It also asks readers to register their complaints with management and fill out cancellation forms, but send them to the union, not the newspaper.

"If they fill out the forms and give them to us, we can see how many do it and decide to turn them in on our own," O'Brien said. "We have not done it yet." He said if the June 14 contract vote is a rejection, the forms might be turned in then, noting "several hundred" have been sent to the guild.

O'Brien said the newspaper has already lost 15 guild members who left in April with a buyout, while speculation is high that up to 20% of the guild staffers could be laid off if the contract is not approved.