About the Toledo Newspaper Guild, CWA Local 34043

Membership: Nearly 400 employees in the Advertising, Editorial, Marketing, Circulation, Accounting, and Information Systems departments of The Blade, plus employees of the Focus Federal Credit Union.

Contract: Our current contract with The Blade, signed in 2003, expires March 21, 2006 . Under the contract, each full-time employee receives two personal days, an anniversary day, and his or her birthday off after one year of service. The Blade contributes an amount set in the contract to jointly trusteed pension and health and welfare funds for each shift worked. Our current contract with the Credit Union expires June 30, 2006 . Under the agreement, employees receive six discretionary holidays after one year’s service, plus their birthday and anniversary of hire date off, and a 401(k) plan with a match of 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6 percent.

Office: The Guild office is at 415 N. Huron St. , Toledo , OH 43604 . It is just south of the intersection of Jackson and Adams streets in downtown Toledo . Mary Moran is the office manager. The telephone number is 419-241-3419. The e-mail address is newspaperguild@sbcglobal.net.

Elections: Elections are held each year during the first week of December for positions on the executive board. Members are chosen for staggered, two-year terms. Nominations for office are held during the October general membership meeting. Offices available are president, vice president/administration, vice president/mobilization and organizing, treasurer, secretary, and executive board members representing the Advertising Department (two members), Circulation Department (two members), Editorial Department (two members), Business Departments and Credit Union (three members), and at-large representatives (two members).

Committees: The Toledo Newspaper Guild encourages participation in all of its endeavors. One of the easiest ways to get involved is to help out on its various committees. These include Human Rights, Safety, Grievance, Negotiations, Publications/Web, Scholarship, Stewards, and New Member committees. If you would like to participate, please get in contact with a board member or the Guild office for more information.

Meetings: It is the duty of every member to stay informed about issues affecting their employment at The Blade. There are four quarterly meetings, usually in January, April, July, and October, where members can find out the latest information and ask questions of the board in a formal setting. These are usually held at the former George’s City Club restaurant above the Guild office at 415 Huron St. and usually start at 5:30 p.m.

Guild members should also check this web site for information and read the Guild’s regular newsletter. and periodic FYIs. More immediate information is available by checking the Guild boards located throughout the building, or by checking with stewards, committee members, or executive board members.

Stewards: Stewards play a vital role in advising members of their rights and responsibilities as union members. They are the first line of information for new members. Each member should know who his or her steward is. To become a steward, please see an executive board member.