Chronicle Guild offers plan to limit job cuts

New proposal calls for sacrifice, revenue focus

03 Mar 2009

Media Workers Guild

Our Guild negotiators today offered Chronicle management representatives a comprehensive package of proposals to cut costs, minimize layoffs, generate new revenues and speed the transition from newsprint to online communications.

Management expressed doubts about whether the Guild package would be enough to avert deep job losses in the Guild’s ranks. Discussions are expected to continue Tuesday afternoon.

The Guild’s cost savings would come, in part, through compensation and benefit cuts, requiring across-the-board sacrifices in exchange for potentially saving scores of jobs. Our overall goal is to keep The Chronicle open and to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Our plan also would preserve basic contract protections for members in grievance or layoff situations.

We underscored our commitment to our membership and to the community to solve The Chronicle’s core problems.

Read the Guild's full set of proposals here:
Guild Joint Proposals to Chronicle.doc

Members with any questions or suggestions can contact their shop stewards or e-mail Unit Chair Michelle Devera, Local President Mike Cabanatuan or Unit Secretary Alissa Van Cleave.

In solidarity,
Michelle Devera, Chronicle Unit chair, michelleatsfchronunit@gmail.com
Mike Cabanatuan, Local president, ctuan@aol.com
Alissa Van Cleave, Chronicle Unit secretary, vancleave44@hotmail.com
Wally Greenwell, Chronicle Unit vice chair
Gloria La Riva, Typographical Sector president
Carl Hall, Local representative
Doug Cuthbertson, Local Executive Officer
Ken Prairie, CWA representative
Chuck Davis, Teamsters Local No. 853 guest