As a bookend to Bob Welsh's missive, which is posted just below this post, here's a note from Deborah Weinstock, who is the Newspaper Guild's unit chair at the AFL-CIO. I don't envy her right now--it can't be pretty trying to reassure your members while facing a $25-27 million hole in the budget.
For many of the readers who are new to this saga, the Federation made huge staff cuts in May but did so in a way that tried to undercut the Guild's seniority system by creating entirely new titles for effectively very similar jobs, in my humble opinion--which is why Deborah is referring to the filling of positions. You can get the background by going back to my early May posts.
I have to say, while I hope for the sake of the workers that all goes well, I remain unconvinced that the Federation can fill the positions AND make up this huge deficit. But, Bob is a magician: he presented a completely unrealistic budget to the Executive Council given what was, at the time, the almost certain disaffiliation of SEIU--or, at best, the Council never was able to review a "what if" scenario. Good luck. And I'd be worried by Deborah's dual points: the Federation believes that it can fill the positions BUT no one has seen the budget yet.
Let me tip my cap to Robin Hunter, a commenter on the post about Welsh's letter, by simply reprinting his questions (thanks, Robin): "The question is do they kill another 167 jobs and create 61 more? Do they lop off entire departments and their functions? Do they not fill the newly created posts? Do they start laying off managers? Drop a few high-dollar consultants? Do they ask everyone to take a 20 percent pay cut? Or stop catering meetings? Take advertising on their website? Rent out the lobby? Rent out the empty offices? The other questions are what should the rest of the labor movement do about it, if anything? Will Morty Bahr again pass up the opportunity to support the workers who pay his salary? Will the affiliated unions do their own belt-tightening and propose to pony up additional dues to cover the shortfall? (Have a special convention, raise the dues to $1 a month, require every local union to join the state feds and CLCs, and give a rebate of dues equal to the percentage of local union funding being directed to organizing.)"
Here it 'tis:
"Guild officers met with HR yesterday in order to seek some clarity on how the AFL-CIO is moving forward with its restructuring plan following the disaffiliations of SEIU, IBT and UFCW. We obtained limited but useful information, particularly with regard to how they are moving forward to fill positions created in the restructuring.
Here's what we know: The AFL-CIO is moving forward to fill the positions that were newly created as part of the restructuring.
- They believe they can fund these positions.
- We have not seen the budget yet, they are currently working on it.
It is still unclear as to whether they will backfill all of the funded positions that were vacated through people taking the voluntary layoff package.
They have begun to interview people for the newly created positions. They expect it will take all of August to get through this process.
Applications were put into three categories
- Applicant appears to be able to meet the qualifications
- Not apparent the applicant meets all qualifications
- Clearly not qualified
They have begun to schedule interviews for people who are the most senior applicants that appear to meet the qualifications for their first choice position.
They are also in the process of getting out letters to the other two categories of applicants. People may receive a letter that says some thing like. It is not apparent from your application for X position that you meet these 3 qualifications. Please provide additional information. Or It appears from your application that you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the job. However, if you think we are in error, please contact the HR department.
This is all the information we have been able to get from management at this time. We believe the process will take longer, and we have not been shown a budget that clearly identifies how many positions will actually be funded. They have not yet agreed with us on an overall time line and end date for the process to fill vacancies, provide for bumping options, and determine the date layoffs would actually occur. We have asked for a meeting with President Sweeney and further meetings with management to get clarity. We will keep you informed as we get information. Please stay in touch with your stewards.
In solidarity,
Deborah
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