"The union's role is to protect its members; my job is to protect everybody else, and that's what I'm doing." Sam Zell
The Tribune Stock Purchase Plan and the ability to purchase Tribune stock on a pre-tax basis in the 401k plan were negotiated as part of the IBEW Local 1212 collective bargaining agreement. We received these benefits as part of the compensation package for our Members working at WPIX.
Had we not participated in these plans, we would have gotten higher wages, better medical benefits, more Holidays, a salami sandwich, or some other valuable item.
If these plans are changed, and/or replaced, our Members should have the expectation of being included in the successor plans, otherwise there needs to be a reopening of negotiations to discuss the compensation our Members will be getting in lieu of participation in the new ESOP and Pension Plans.
All the best,
Bob D
________________WE DON'T OWN THIS PLACE NOW.
From: Robert Daraio [mailto:bdaraio@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2007 5:52 PM
To: Talk to Sam
Subject: Questions
Dear Mr. Zell,
Welcome! I'm certainly glad to have you aboard. I do have some questions, thank you for providing all the members of your new team the opportunity to ask them directly.
I am an IBEW represented employee at WPIX. We were included in the old Employee Stock Purchase Plan as part of our compensation package under our collective bargaining agreement.
Under the new ownership this plan was taken from us and we were not included in the new ESOP.
I feel as if I've lost some of my compensation without it being replaced and without any negotiation, as this has occurred between contracts.
It makes me sad to see all the signs posted at work that say "You Own This Place Now", when I actually don't, some people do, but not me, and not any of the other IBEW members who used to be able to have an ownership stake in our company.
What are your plans for the TV stations? Are you keeping us? Are we for sale? If so, as a unit or as individual stations? Are we going to get seed money to expand local production opportunities?
Specific to WPIX, are we going to renew the lease on 42nd Street or are we moving? Will WPIX remain a major New York presence?
I know that's a lot of questions and you may not know the answers to all of them right now.
My grandfather always said "begin the way you mean to continue". Addressing the ESOP issue and questions about the future of the broadcasting unit would certainly be a great place to start.
This all is a huge undertaking. I wish you great success and pledge my full support to growing this business and keeping all the wonderful, talented, people I have the privilege of working with employed.
All the best,
Bob Daraio
Video Engineer
WPIX
1 comment:
PIX slapping employees in the face, there's a surprise.
TNG is trying to get the station to honor what's written in plain black & white for the writers who were owed a miniscule fee for producing sports every morning. Station said no, they owed nothing. Every week, the writers get more and more job duties added, while PIX gets rid of more and more people. Job duties the writers were never trained for. Seems like they really don't care about the quality of the on air product. The writing is perfect. But when you have a writer try to edit something, or produce something when they've never done it before... it looks like garbage.
No surprise that the station is greasing up the hand to get ready for another slap across the face.
To think... at some point we actually told people with pride who we worked for.
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