Washington-Baltimore News Guild
General Membership Meeting Minutes
Date of Meeting: January 29, 2020
EC Present: Elise Bryant, Hau Chu, Steve Cook, Erin Darcolo, David DeJesus, Dan Gabor, Jazmin Gargoum, Maya Goins, Joel Gratz, Don Griesheimer, Fatima Hussein, Tom Jackman, Fred Kunkle, Marissa Lang, Justin Moyer, Sam Nelson, Bill O’ Meara, Mark Pattison, Vivian Shin, Jeremy Sprinkle, Michelle Wang
Excused: Ben Cooper, Lillyanne Daigle
Staff & Guests: Rick Ehrmann, Eric Geist, Bruce Jett, Cet Parks, Paul Reilly
Meeting called to order at 7:08 PM
I. Minutes
September 21,2019
• Don Griesheimer motioned to approve and seconded by Hau Chu. Motion Passes.
December 7, 2019
• Minutes approved; no further action required.
II. Membership Report – November 20, 2019 EC
October 16, 2019 – November 20, 2019
• Don Griesheimer motions to approve and seconded by Hau Chu. Motion Passes.
III. Officer’s Reports – November 20, 2019 EC
President’s Report
• President Steve Cook is elected as Region 2 Vice President of The News Guild, replacing Sheila Lindsay.
• Discussed merger of Gatehouse and Gannett newspaper chains and impact to working journalists, and overall threat it represents to The NewsGuild.
Vice President’s Report
• Vice President Elise Bryant updates on involvement with CLUW convention workshops, National Women’s March and pay disparity and women’s vote issues.
IV. New Business
• None
V. Old Business
At-Large Vacancy
• Nominations taken for the At-Large seat vacated by Latisha Harvey (BBNA). Justin Moyer nominated Joel Gratz and the nomination was seconded. There were no other nominations and Joel Gratz was approved for the EC At-Large seat.
• Jazmin Gargoum questions how to shorten the process to replace vacant member seats. Additional discussion on members who are not active and their seats being vacant for long periods of time. Matter was taken under advisement for future action.
VI. Executive Director & Staff Reports (Nov 20 EC)
Cet Parks
• Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Staff (CKPSU) – Council approval requested for contract agreement. Don Griesheimer motioned to approval the contract, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
• Alliance of Health Care Unions – Council approval requested for contract agreement. Sam Nelson motioned to approve, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
• Florida AFL-CIO – Council approval requested for contract agreement. Don Griesheimer motioned to approve, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
Rick Ehrmann
• NC State AFL-CIO – Council approval requested for contract agreement. Sam Nelson motioned to approve the contract, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
• National Abortion Federation/Hotline – Council approval requested for contract agreement. Hau Chu motions to approve and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
Paul Reilly
• Charlottesville Daily Progress – Retroactive approval requested for bargaining team (Katherine Knott, Allison Wrable, Meghin Moore, Hannah Cox, Tyler Hammel, John Abbott, Nolan Stout. Sam Nelson motioned to approve request and motion was seconded. Motion to approve bargaining team passes.
• CNS – Retroactive approval requested for one year contract extension with 3% raise. Mark Pattison motioned to approve request, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
• American Prospect – Council approval requested for one year contract that includes 3% raise retroactive to Nov. 1, 2019. Don Griesheimer motions to approve request and motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
• Jobs with Justice – Council approval requested for wage re-opener with increased salary scale step by $300, effective January 1 plus one-time bonus to each unit employee ($1,420). Mark Pattison motioned to approve the request, and the motion was seconded. Motion Passes.
Eric Geist
• No action items
Bruce Jett
• No action items
VII. Financials – (Nov 20 EC)
Current Expenses (Financial Highlights- September 30, 2019)
• Justin Moyer (Treasurer) provides update on September and year-end financials. No action required on September financials.
VIII. Good and Welfare
• Jazmin Gargoum – raises issue on delivery of EC packets via email as files can be very large and difficult to deliver electronically. Joel Gratz agreed to provide several solutions to resolve the issue.
• Katie Mettler speaks to concern of providing additional support for Nancy Banks.
IX. Adjournment
• Mark Pattison motions to adjourn GMM and motion is seconded. Motion carries and meeting is adjourned at 8.20 PM.