August 4, 2006

 

S&P PLANS TO SUBCONTRACT

PRESIDENT STREET OPERATION

 

Guild Rolls Up Sleeves to Save Jobs,

Company Pledges to Help, But We’re Not Sure

 

Standard & Poor’s officials gave notice to the Guild on Monday that they plan on subcontracting the printing and circulation work performed at President Street in Brooklyn.

 

All seven Guild-represented employees at the print shop will be affected, although one will be transferred to 55 Water Street and will not be facing the possibility of job loss.

The announcement by the company kicked into action a provision in the new contract regarding subcontracting even before that pact’s pay increases have been put into effect. The language provides greater protection against jobs loss due to subcontracting and an enhanced buyout should any of the affected individuals volunteer to leave.

 

According to the new language, “employees shall be given job offers in order of seniority in any other available bargaining unit job with the same or comparable work content.”

 

Failing that, “the Publisher shall encourage the affected employee to apply for any other existing, available bargaining unit positions for which he/she is qualified in the opinion of the Publisher.”

 

The problem facing the affected individuals and the Guild right now is that there aren’t too many “available” bargaining unit jobs right now.

 

In order to increase the chances of finding slots for employees facing layoff, the Guild has asked the company to accept volunteers for buyouts from individuals outside the targeted group. The company has said it would consider such requests for buyouts on a case-by-case basis, maintaining its right to reject any such requests.

 

If you are in a job classification you feel these individuals might be qualified to fill or could be trained to fill and you would like to be considered for a buyout, you should contact Guild Unit Chairperson Ed Fannon at Extension 3804 or Local Representative Bob Townsend at 212-730-1732.

 

The six employees facing layoff as a result of the subcontracting, all in the Circulation Fulfillment Department under supervisor Gil Thomas, include two storekeepers, an assistant supervisor, a clerk and a unit head. Their seniority totals 200 years.

 

Although the company has pledged to make an honest effort to find these individuals jobs, the Guild has already seen evidence of some hedging.

 

On one hand, the company has said it will consider all of the people for a buyout that come forward in position titles that are not being targeted, but on the other hand, it is telling the Guild it will be reluctant to grant buyouts to individuals who work in departments other than Thomas’.

 

The reason is simply bureaucratic: The money for the buyout would come out of a different budget and a different manager would be saddled with any training that would have to take place!

 

And, although the company has agreed to extend a buyout beyond its contractual obligation to the affected employees, it has not agreed to extend the enhanced subcontracting buyout to employees not facing a layoff. It says it will grant volunteers straight severance, which is two weeks pay per year of service that began on before January 2, 1978, for the first 13 years of service, and one week of pay for each year thereafter.

 

Under the contract’s new subcontracting language, Monday began a 30-day period during which the company must provide the Guild with information and talk to us before finalizing a decision. If the company continues its plan, it must then provide the affected employees with 60 days’ notice and details of their enhanced buyout package.

 

We will keep you informed. 

 

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8/4/06