031023SP.htm

1/16/04

2003: A Busy Year for the Guild

In weekly meetings with management over the past year, your Guild representatives at Standard & Poor's have actively worked to resolve issues ranging from minor misunderstandings to major grievances. We have been steadfast in policing the contract to make sure our members get everything they’re entitled to--from vacation time to promotions, to pay for doing work in a higher job classification. We’ve succeeded in avoiding involuntary layoffs and worked hard to keep jobs in Guild jurisdiction--and to bring in new jobs as well.

In the New Year, we look forward to continuing to serve you--and we need to hear about your concerns, big and small. Participation in the Guild--YOUR UNION--is what it’s all about.

Here’s looking forward to a healthy and prosperous 2004!

Winning Higher-Category Pay

Many members have come to us because their job duties have changed or become more complex and demanding over time. During 2003, we argued for and won pay raises and promotions for a number of members who were working in higher job classifications than they got credit for. Since the end of the last contract, the Guild has also successfully negotiated with management to revise existing job titles and job descriptions. In future contract negotiations, the Guild intends to put these new jobs into the contract.

Making sure that the duties of Guild employees are accurately described helps to ensure that they are paid fairly for the work they actually do. Let us know if YOUR job has changed significantly.

Voluntary Buyout Program Compensates Guild Members

In an effort to avoid 10 involuntary layoffs in 2003, the Guild and S&P successfully negotiated a voluntary buyout program for workers in Investor Services/Data Operations. Under the plan, ten volunteers received up to 73 weeks of severance pay (depending on length of service), along with other financial incentives, as a result of the Guild’s work.

Cafeteria Update

The opening date for the new cafeteria has been pushed back until July 2004, according to John Gillen, Human Resources Senior Director of Workforce Initiatives. The cafeteria will be located adjacent to Java City on the main floor of 55 Water Street.

Strengthening the Guild at S&P

In addition to strengthening and preserving jobs already covered by the union contract, the Guild is working to include more employees at S&P in its jurisdiction. A recent example of such efforts involves copy editors in Credit Market Services. Through Guild negotiations, the title of Senior Copy Editor will be added to the list of union covered jobs in CMS in the near future. The Senior Copy Editor position will now be listed in all three S&P job security groups and is a new position to which Guild employees in CMS can be promoted. Accomplishments like this are not easily won, but can be achieved through tough bargaining and involvement of our S&P Guild members.

An active membership and committed Unit Council are at the core of the Guild’s progress and solidarity at S&P. Nevertheless, it takes some cooperation from management to implement changes that we want. A good working relationship with management is essential to the success of the Guild, and in the long run, of the company. Though we will always have our differences, it is essential that both sides understand each other's interests during discussions involving Guild business. The union hopes that the respectful working relationship we have generally enjoyed will continue in the new year and beyond, leading to cooperation and prosperity for all.

For many of you who are new employees at S&P, this may be your first union-covered position. You'll want to know, "What's in it for me?" There are many benefits to having a collective bargaining agent. One of the most important is that you have on-site representatives who are there to help when needed.

At some point in your career at S&P, you may be called into a meeting with a supervisor. Most such meetings may be to review a project or to conduct some other ordinary office business. However, if at any time during a meeting with your supervisor(s) you think that disciplinary action could result, you have the right to ask for union representation.

You have the right to request it prior to, at the beginning of, or at any time during, a meeting. But you must ask for union representation. Management has no obligation to offer it or to remind you that you have a right to it. The Guild is here to see that your rights as a member are respected. If we are brought in too late in the game, it may limit our options, and yours.

See the list of Guild officers at the end of this page. Don’t hesitate to call us regarding any aspect of your employment at S&P--we're here to help. All inquires are confidential.

The Newspaper Guild, Standard & Poor's Unit, will hold a meeting for members who work at 55 Water Street, on Thursday, January 29, 11 A.M. in the Bayview Room on the 37^th floor. All Guild-represented employees are urged to attend. The Human Resources department will send a letter to all managers to inform them of the meeting and direct them to allow you to be there. A meeting will be held at 2:30 P.M. at the President Street facility for employees there.

Your Guild representatives are here to help. Please contact us with any work-related issue. All inquiries are confidential.

                               Unit Chairperson: Ed Fannon                                     X3-3804
                                Grievance & 1^st Vice Chair: Randye Gilliam           X3-3806
                                Secretary: Vacant
                                Treasurer: Peter Burke                                                 X3-7491
                                Assistant Treasurer: Jim Tchou                                   X3-3821
                                Grievance Committee Member: Carol Wood             X3-3642
                                Grievance Committee Member: Art Epstein              X3-3802
                                      Newspaper Guild Local Representative: Steve Zavatski         212-575-1580