[Announce] Fw: CLN Catholic News Service Labor Trouble

[Robert Waldrop]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Reilly" <Preilly at wbng.org>
To: "Robert Waldrop" <bwaldrop at cox.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 8:25 AM
Subject: Catholic News Service Labor Trouble


> As some of you may have heard, members of the 
> Newspaper Guild in Washington,
> DC have been working without a contract at 
> Catholic News Service (run by the
> U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) since Jan. 
> 1. The main sticking point
> has been CNS' demand that it be able to 
> unilaterally terminate the defined
> benefit pension plan midcontract.
>
> Below is a link to the video of a demonstration 
> held 11/1 outside the
> U.S.C.C.B offices featuring Newspaper Guild 
> President Linda Foley, CWA
> Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach and CWA 
> Secretary-Treasurer Barbara
> Easterling.
>
> If you would like to show your support for the 
> Guild members, please send an
> email to (a sample message is pasted below the 
> youtube link):
>
> Bishop William S. Skylstad
> President
> U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
> wskylstad at dioceseofspokane.org
> cc: Preilly at wbng.org
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGd0ELSNwsc
>
> The rich heritage of Catholic social teaching is 
> unmistakably clear on the
> rights of workers - especially the right to 
> bargain over crucial economic
> issues such as pension.
>
> That is why I am dismayed that the Catholic News 
> Service, acting as agents
> for the U.S. bishops, would demand that the 
> Washington-Baltimore Newspaper
> Guild members give management the unilateral 
> right to reduce -- or eliminate
> -- justly earned pension benefits.
>
> CNS employees have been without a contract since 
> January 1st, and CNS
> management has been slow even to agree to 
> bargaining dates
>
> I urge you to use your influence to encourage 
> CNS management to withdraw its
> pension demand and to reach a just settlement 
> quickly with the Guild so that
> CNS' reputation as a model employer can be 
> restored.
>
> _____________
>
> Thanks for your support
> Paul Reilly
> Local Representative
> Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (TNG/CWA 
> 32035)
>
>
>