Monday, February 16, 2009

Los Angeles Times Kicks a Man when he's Down


Richard Carrillo is yet another long term employee of the Los Angeles Times, which will become another former employee before long. Richard, whom is called Ricky by his colleagues in the pressroom, spent seven years pushing the large rolls of newsprint before transferring into the pressroom in 1990.

Ricky is a very quiet man that always keeps a positive sense of life, and is an ideal employee that never questions any task is he requested to perform in the pressroom. I worked with Ricky yesterday, and even though he’s about to be displaced, he was quick with a smile.

Ironically Ricky was given his gold watch for twenty-five years of service with the Los Angeles Times, and his layoff notice on the same day!

Last week Ricky sent an email to me that was rather disturbing, but not much of a shocker when dealing with the anti-union Tribune Boss’ within the Operations Department.


Here’s his message:

"I am looking for a job description to help me put together my
resume. When I asked Dan Lippiatt for a copy, his
response was "you have to the Union for a job description."

Is there a copy somewhere that I can get a copy of?"

Seems some pressroom supervisors have a moral compass that has lost it’s direction, when a man that is losing his livelihood asks for assistance, the right thing to do is offer to help him. Not rub salt into his wound.

Needless to say Nubia and I wrote a job description for Ricky, and if anyone else needs any assistance please feel free to ask, because we will not say no to you, union member or not.

Andy Rooney Versus The Headlines


Andy Rooney reads several newspapers each morning, but he wishes editors would stop assuming he understands everything they print.

Monday Afternoon in the Blogosphere


Los Angeles Times Machinist Joe Duarte Departing the Newspaper in April

A woman missed her flight at the boarding gate


A woman going insane after missing her flight at Hong Kong International Airport, with over 1,354,000 views in four days I suppose many enjoy this woman's tirade?

R.I.P. Sandi Reney



Our condolences to Chuck Reney and family regarding the passing of Chuck’s wife Sandi Reney yesterday. Chuck is a journeyman pressman at our Orange County production facility.

Ill-Timed Bonuses at Tribune Company


The furor regarding the bankruptcy court’s approval to give bonuses to a select few Tribune Company Employees has been misunderstood, by the emails I’m receiving. I agree the timing of the bonuses could not come at a worst time, but the Tribune Company Executives are not the winners of this particular bonus.

Here’s the paragraph that explains vaguely who’s in line for the bonuses:

"Tribune Co., the second-largest newspaper publisher in the U.S., was authorized by the bankruptcy judge at a hearing yesterday to continue or adopt employee benefit programs for non-executive workers."
Before you burn the Tribune Company Executives in effigy realize your immediate supervisors and department managers are in line for this ill-timed bonus as we axe Tribune workers across the country.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

What's Up?



I am David Padgett and I did this post on my Papa's blog!

Dues Check-Off at the Los Angeles Times


The union negotiators, representing the pressroom workers at the Los Angeles Times two production facilities, requested during negotiations that the frequency of withdrawing dues from union members pay checks at twice per month, which the company would not agree to. Instead of wasting time and delaying the signing of the first contract the negotiators agreed to a withdrawal of dues once per month, with the second pay period per month as the agreed upon frequency. The Los Angeles Times has broken this agreement with dues taken from paychecks last Friday the 13th, the first pay period of February.

The union will be blamed for this error as this is the standard operating procedure at the newspaper.


Below is the message from Linard Williams to Russ Newton:


February 2, 2009


Mr. Russ Newton
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA 90017

RE: Dues Check-Off Authorization Form – List of Unpaid Dues

Dear Russ:

Please accept this as a formal request for me to receive a monthly list from you showing which union workers have not paid their required monthly dues of $60 (monthly deduction). This list is needed as soon as practicable, and after the first month of dues have been collected from the union workers (starting last pay
period in February). ( February 27, 2009)……..

As the Secretary of Treasurer of the Local 140-N Union, this information is needed in order for me to keep accurate financial records.

Your anticipated cooperation is greatly appreciated regarding this matter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding my request.

Sincerely,


Linard Williams
Secretary of Treasurer

Sunday Morning in the Blogosphere


28 year pressman Jose Esparza leaving the newspaper in April



Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday Night in the Blogosphere


31 Year Los Angeles Times Pressman Paul Rogers Will be Leaving us soon

R.I.P. Gerald Hebert


I’m saddened to report the passing of Gerald Hebert, electro-tech at the Los Angeles Times Orange County Production Facility. I did not know Gerald personally, but from what his colleagues have shared he was a very likeable man.

Gerald had been off work while fighting against pancreatic cancer, and returned to the newspaper but two weeks ago, looking very weakened from the treatments. He was discovered expired by his brother after failing to show up for work.

One of Gerald’s colleagues wrote this:
"I liked Gerald. He was a fun guy to be around. He and I got along well especially after I modified all the CCR boxes on the OC presses with hinges on the long side. He maintained them, so the modification made his life easier".

"I'm pretty bummed out about Mike and Gerald. They were too young -- and their deaths make me feel more vulnerable. Isn't it terrible to go from invincible to vulnerable?".

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thursday Afternoon in the Blogosphere


29 Year Los Angeles Times Machinist Greg Hernandez to depart in April

Services for Pressman Michael Reyes


We lost another colleague at the Los Angeles Times Olympic Facility on Sunday, February 8th, 2009, unfortunately not to a layoff. Michael Reyes was a quiet man that worked at the newspaper as a reel room coordinator, diagnosing reasons the newsprint would break and entering data on the consumption of newsprint. Michael was a husband, father, friend and strong union supporter who will be missed by all the men and women in Operations.

Viewing: Monday, February 16th, 2009
5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Gutierrez & Weber Mortuary
611 W. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, CA. 90012
(213) 624-7097

Services: Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
10:00 am
Gutierrez & Weber Mortuary

If you would like to send condolences to his wife and family, drop an email my way and I will supply the needed information.

h/t's to Gatha Hayes and Chris Egnozzi

How to Become More Valuable to Your Employer


In tought economic times, showing your value to your direct supervisor or employer can make a HUGE difference.

In this clip from Money Matters, Dr. David Weiman, a psychologist and success expert who's been interviewed in BusinessWeek, the Los Angeles Times, Fox Philadelphia and others explains how you can add more value at work.

You can learn more at
http://www.WeimanConsulting.com

Follow Dr. Weiman on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/davidweiman


203 and Counting at the Los Angeles Times


All employees at the Los Angeles Times are suffering from high anxiety as no one is quite sure if the ax will swing in their direction? Several colleagues working in Operations have complained of the inability to sleep soundly through the night, or of stomach ailments, and many have resorted to smoking cigarettes to relieve their stress.

There has been no decision of how deep the cuts will hit the plate making department yet as the Times converts to the computer to plate system sometime soon.

Many mail room employees have duel job assignments, part of their shift is spent moving newsprint, and the remainder of their shifts in the mail room.


The breakdown is as follows:

63 pressmen and presswomen from Orange County and Olympic
11 machinists at the Olympic Facility
2 pressroom supervisors Olympic and Orange County
1 pressroom clerk from Olympic
3 electro-techs from Olympic
75 editorial employees
4 electro-techs Orange County
4 machinists Orange County
21 mailroom Olympic (4 full time and 17 part time employees)
19 mailroom Orange County (9 full time and 10 part time employees)

Will update as information flows in.

So Much For Love...



With Valentines Day coming up and the economy in the tank, perhaps a romantic poem from you to your sweetie will be just the ticket to save some money while at the same time expressing your admiration from the bottom of your heart. Ah....the perfect gift of love.

1. My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you has screwed up my life.

2. I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming.

3. Kind, intelligent, loving & hot;
This describes everything you are not.

4. Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss,
But I'm not sleeping with you 'cause I'm thoroughly pissed.

5. I thought that I could love no other
-- that is until I met your brother.

6. Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, & so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's
empty & so is your head.

7. I want to feel your sweet embrace;
But don't take that paper bag off your face.

8. I love your smile, your face, & your eyes
Damn, I'm good at telling lies!

9. My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way?

10. My feelings for you no words can tell,
Except for maybe 'Go to hell.'

11. What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wednesday Night in the Blogosphere


31 Year Los Angeles Times Machinist Manuel Huesca to depart in April

184 and Counting at the Los Angeles Times


With the goal of reducing staff by 300 at the Tribune Company' Los Angeles Times, I have accounted for 184 of the current layoffs. Erica Smith via Twitter sent this over "I've heard Tribune folks use the word "bloodbath" lately" Sad. So it sounds as if all Tribune newspapers will feel the pain shortly.

The breakdown is as follows:

63 pressmen and presswomen from Orange County and Olympic
11 machinists at the Olympic Facility
2 pressroom supervisors Olympic and Orange County
1 pressroom clerk from Olympic
3 electro-techs from Olympic
75 editorial employees
4 electro-techs Orange County
4 machinists Orange County
21 mailroom Olympic (4 full time and 17 part time employees)

Will update as information flows in.

Sent from Ebove


A coworker and his spouse has launched a new website geared toward granting wishes and giving from the heart.

The site states: "We all run into difficulties from time to time in our lives & need a helping hand. Sent from Ebove is an online service connecting people in need with those who can help."

Please visit the site and participate if you are so inclined.