January 30, 2007

 

CROSS-DIVISIONAL VOLUNTEER PERIOD
 

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On January 18, Time Inc. announced new job eliminations. For the past two weeks, management has been accepting buyout volunteers from the "targeted" areas. For the next two weeks, according to the Guild contract, the company will consider giving buyouts to cross-divisional volunteers into whose spots affected employees could be moved.

Targeted employees at the following magazines include: 

TIME MAGAZINE
3 artists (Group 10)
3 copy editors (Group 9)
1 negative reader (Group 10)
1 assistant photo lab technician (Group 5)
2 news desk editors (Group 11)
1 letter correspondent (Group 8)
4 research librarians (Group 10)
8 reporter/researchers in New York (Group 10)
1 reporter/researcher in the District of Columbia (Group 10)
1 reporter/researcher who handles the Map Room in New York (Group 10)
4 editorial assistants (Group 6)
Any combination of 5 reporter/writers or reporter/editors (11 and 12)
 
PEOPLE MAGAZINE
2 page productions specialists (Group 9)
3 copy editors (Group 9)
3 negative readers (Group 10)
1 low resolution scanner (Group 9)
1 letters correspondent (Group 8)
5 reporter researchers (Group 10)
3 writer/reporters (GROUP 11)
7 writer/editors (Group 12)

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
3 copy clerks (Group 2)
1 copy coordinator (Group 10)
1 copy editor (Group 9)
1 imaging specialist (Group 10) -The company said they would consider volunteers from EW.
3 photographers (Group 12)
1 news desk assistant (Group 7)
1 reporter researcher (Group 10)
4 editorial assistants (Group 6)
1 writer/reporter (Group 11)
6 writer/editors (Group 12)
 

JOB-FOR-PACKAGE SWAP
In keeping with the Guild contract provisions, volunteers from other magazines [in Guild-covered Categories 1-9] may come forward for the two weeks starting February 5, for two weeks. (If you come forward after then, management is not obligated to consider you, but it may do so.) Those who are in the same job category or hold other similar job titles may indicate their interest in volunteering for a job-elimination package during the next two weeks.

   
If you are sure you want to step forward, LET THE GUILD KNOW OF YOUR INTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you have some interest but are unsure, or if you just want to learn more about what a package may entail, you may want to contact Time Magazine HR specialist Amy Sommer (amy_sommer@timeinc.com), People Magazine HR specialist Julie Pettinelli (Julie_pettinelli@timeinc.com), Sports Illustrated HR specialist Debra Stroff (debra_stroff@timeinc.c) and cc: HR Erick Velez (Erick_velez@timeinc.com) to get the figures for your package and then it is important that you contact Guild Unit Chairperson Alex Blanco (x4187), Guild Grievance Chairperson Edith Fried (x3867), 1st Vice-Chair John Shostrom (x3965) or Local Representative Bob Townsend (212-730-1532).

Categories 10, 11, and 12 ARE NOT eligible, but one can arrange an individual swap by putting all the pieces together YOURSELF. The Guild will help. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Guild. Be aware that no cross-divisional volunteer situation is ever a sure thing. The manager from the department in which the volunteer works must interview and accept, in the volunteer's place, the person who was to be laid off. The only guarantee in the contract is that management will "make every reasonable effort" to accept volunteers. If the job-for-package swap works, the volunteer will get the job-elimination package, and the targeted person will get the volunteer's job.

VOLUNTEERING FROM THE TARGETING DEPARTMENTS: Management has confirmed that during the two-week cross-divisional volunteer period, members of the downsized departments continue to have the right to volunteer.

The Guild is outraged that these unnecessary and ill-planned job cuts are being made. Time Inc., after completing a year in which it notched a profit of about 18%, announced plans to slash almost 300 jobs company-wide. Surely, a company making that much money can pare its staff by attrition, not layoffs.

The Guild continues to bargain with the company, amid all these lay-offs, trying to maintain an equitable contract, but the Guild’s strength at the bargaining table is derived through its membership. If you are not a member, join the Guild. Contact Unit Membership Chairperson Alex Blanco at 522-4187 or Local Guild Representative Bob Townsend at 212 730-1532.

 

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1/30/07