Dear Colleague:
As you probably know, some of our pressroom employees are again trying to stir up interest in the union, passing out union authorization cards and copies of the Newsday contract. I am urging each of you not to sign a card or petition and to tell the union’s supporters we don’t need to go through yet another election campaign.
We all know that these are difficult times for the newspaper industry, and we would all be less than human if we weren’t concerned with what could happen here at The Times. But despite what the union’s supporters may claim, having a union doesn’t really increase anyone’s job security. If it really did, employees at papers such as The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, automobile companies like General Motors, and airlines like Northwest would not be going through layoffs and reductions in force.
As we have shown you repeatedly, having a union doesn’t automatically guarantee that things will get better. For example, having a union contract did not stop the AFL-CIO from laying its own employees off OUT OF SENIORITY ORDER. A union contract did not stop the papers from laying off employees at the Long Beach Press-Telegram or the Daily Breeze in Torrance. And when the union’s supporters are telling you about the Newsday contract, ask them to identify any major newspapers outside of the Northeast where they have negotiated a “New York” type contract, or anything like it. They won’t because they can’t – just look at the union’s contracts up and down the West Coast. The union is a gamble – and with a union you could get more, remain the same, or end up with less.
We all know the truth. The only thing that provides any of us with real job security and good wages and benefits is producing a product that our customers, our readers and advertisers, want to buy. Putting us all through yet another union campaign certainly isn’t going to improve service to those customers. It would only be another resource- wasting distraction. So please don’t sign an authorization card just to get the minority of union supporters off your back. Now more than ever we need to stay focused.
Thank you.
Mark
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12 comments:
Mark says....."The union is a gamble – and with a union you could get more, remain the same, or end up with less".
Interesting...... first time I have ever heard that you “could” get more from a union from a Times executive.
Is Tribune a "gamble" or a sure thing?
I'll take tribune as a " gamble " for 200$ Alex LMAO
why yes i believe the former "drivers" did gamble with tribune ( and lost !! ) right mark k. !!
Ladies and gentlemen,
When I worked at the Veterans Hospital as a civil servant, I've belonged to one of those so-called union and have to agree with my former collegues (co-workers) saying it is a "Paper Tiger" with no real power, because I had an employees relations problem with another co-worker and lost because the union steward did not do her job or had lack of interest in my case. Also, working for the federal govenment you do not have a right to strike, for if you did you will be terminated. Remember the PATCO strike during the early eghties, you know the air traffice controllers? Well, Ronald Reagan fired them all and desolved the union.
In addition, I have first hand knowledge of being around union employees such as that of UAW, the union that represents auto workers. While being a security officer working for Pinkerton for 5 and one half years at their SPO plant in Santa Fe Springs. Never in my life have I heard so much whining and crying and sick outs than at that facility. They even whine about having their lunch pails inspected even after 9/11. They seem to be the most miserable people on earth especially when union members have to pay their dues.
Oh yes, there is a local paper in the LA basin that is unionized, that is the Register and those guys are not only unhappy but extremely rude when I was there in the late eighties working for Universal Protection. Maybe I have something against unions being making our country less competitive price wise because the unions were just too greedy.
Bob Wright
This letter looks like a paste and copy from the last time, lots of people believed it and here we are with less and less every time, I guess we can be manipulated very easy.
Mark says...."The only thing that provides any of us with real job security and good wages and benefits is producing a product that our customers, our readers and advertisers, want to buy."
So, because nothing we have appears to be "real", I guess then that we, in Operations, are NOT producing a product that our customers, our readers and advertisers, want to buy. Funny, I thought we were producing a quality product, on time.....
Gentlemen what I'm interested in is somthing in wrighting that says when or if my raises take place my medical,like mananagement that rape the earth the Indians didn't learn hand shakes do not make it right now you have no rights,you only have rights if it's in wrighting in court to hold company accounttable make it so you don't beg instead make them respect you as a group its not whining its smart, your not white collars your blue collars think about you and colleages instead of white collars its all about me remember its the tribune Now!
(If you Los Angeles Times guys do seek to get it in writing, as the author of the above post recommends, I suggest you not allow him within a mile of any pen, pencil or crayon. Seek the counsel of others with insight, experience, and at least an eighth-grade education. Below, I’ve tried my best to translate into English.)
-Outsider
Gentlemen, (added comma) what I'm interested in is somthing (SIC something) in wrighting (SIC writing) that says when, (added comma) or if, (added comma) my raises take place. (added period) My (capital M) medical, (added space) like mananagement (SIC management) that raped (past tense) the earth, (added comma) the Indians didn't learn hand shakes (SIC handshakes) do not make it right. (added period)
(new paragraph)
Now (capital N) you have no rights. (changed comma to period) You (capital Y) only have rights if it's in wrighting (SIC writing) in court to hold company accounttable (SIC accountable). (added period)
(new paragraph)
Make (capital M) it so you don't beg. (added period) Instead, (capital I and added comma) make them respect you as a group. (added period) It’ s (capital I and added apostrophe- recommend “It is” instead of contraction) not whining, (added comma) it’s (added apostrophe) smart. (changed comma to period)
(new paragraph)
Your (SIC You’re) not white collars, (added comma) your (SIC you’re) blue collars. (added period) Think (capital T) about you and your (added your) colleages (SIC colleagues) instead of white collars. (added period) It’s (capital I and added apostrophe) all about me. (period ???) Remember, (capital R and added comma) it’ s (added apostrophe) the Tribune. (capital T for Tribune, big boo-boo!) Now! (I have no idea.)
(I think I need a beer!)
- Outsider
LOL Outsider !!! that was great
Outsider ..........
Are you sure he finished the eight grade ? Somebody take anonymous' computer away .
This one is for the person with the 8TH grade education. The english major outsider person is making the same amount of money or less as you are.
If such is true, then you are truly blessed with a generous employer.
In all my purchases and dealings, I bargain for every ounce of value. That is the reality of business. It is neither harsh nor unreasonable, just the natural order of things. You need to ask yourself, honestly, what value The Los Angeles Times receives for salaries paid.
What I earn is of importance to me. Much more so, however, is the ability to earn it in any community in which I choose to reside, and the power to command it without the assistance of others.
- Outsider
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