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CHICAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION No. 16 • COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL No. 14408
IN
PR
UNION
TING SECTO
Vol. 108, No. 1
R
LABEL
CHICAGO, IL
8
(AFL-CIO)
January-April, 2014
New Year Brings Some Changes
From The President
Keeping up with the chang‑
ing times is a major element
in the survival of any organization. Technology in our craft
has come on with the speed of light. Not too
many years ago, no one would have thought
that parts of a local newspaper could have
been produced in a foreign country. No one
would have thought that a major newspaper
could go bankrupt, but two papers have. Our
newspapers are rushing to become extinct
as we know them, such as reading your daily
newspaper on your hand held phone, kind
of Dick Tracy. No one would have thought
the public would accept printed material
that was not of the highest quality. Need to
fill out a form, go to the internet to print it
out, want instructions on a product you just
purchased, go to the internet for an instruction
booklet.
Since 1991, our Union has been in the forefront of seeking mergers and alliances with
other union organizations in the communications business. In the past, we have produced
mergers with ITU’s locals in Elgin, Illinois,
Aurora, Illinois and Waukegan, Illinois. We
have had other attempts with Joliet Typographical, Rockford Typographical and the Chicago
Newspaper Guild that did not prove successful. No. 16 is one of the founding locals for the
CWA Illinois Council, which consists of NABT,
IUE, Association of Flight Attendants, Chicago
Mailers Union, Chicago Newspaper Guild and
numerous CWA locals throughout Illinois.
No. 16 has one of the best organizing
records in the Printing Sector, having won
award after award at CWA Conventions.
Our local is now at a point in time that
demands us to be prudent in seeking a merger
with another CWA local in order for No. 16 to
continue its tradition of excellence in negotiating job security, fair wages and working conditions, regardless of the economic climate.
No. 16 Job Shop negotiators reached a
three year agreement with Printing Specialties
just before Christmas. The Parties current one
year contract extension was set to expire on
January 1, 2014.
Printing Specialties, prints and distributes
official thoroughbred, quarter and harness
horse racing information. The company is also
able to supply electronic horse racing program
information that has been produced by our
members for their customers.
The three year agreement provides for a
one and one-half percent wage increase
in the first year, a two percent wage increase in each of the final two years of the
agreement and a weekly increase over the
current contribution into the CWA/ITU
Negotiated Pension Plan of $2.50 in each
year of the agreement, for a total increase of
$7.50 weekly in the final year. All health and
welfare increases are to be paid by the company.
Unlike other agreements, this settlement is
contingent upon the Illinois State legislature
passing an extension of the Advance Deposit
Wagering law that is set to expire on February
1, 2014. The law sets the number of racing
dates for thoroughbred, quarter and harness
house racing for the next three years.
The State of Illinois Labor Relations Board
issued a Complaint against the County of
Cook and the Sheriff of Cook County for their
failure to bargain in good faith with Chicago
Typographical Union No. 16/CWA 14408. A
hearing on the Complaint is set for February
19 and 20, 2014.
The Complaint developed out of the County’s
failure to supply the Union with certain information in November, 2012, at the beginning
of negotiations for a new contract that had
expired December 1, 2012.
Newspaper members at the Chicago SunTimes and Beacon-News have seen their
wages increase for the first time since the
newspapers came out of bankruptcy. Under
a Memorandum Of Understanding And Offer
Of Settlement entered into last January, bargaining unit members would receive wage
and benefit increases under certain conditions. One of those elements took effect this
January, for which members have received
a 3.84% wage increase, effective January 1,
2014.
Since the Memorandum runs until October
26, 2015, any additional wage and benefits
increases will continue to be passed along to
our members.
While the ink was still drying on the newly
signed contract between the Chicago Newspaper Guild and the Sun-Times Media after
18 months of negotiations, Sun-Times Media
announced the sale of the Joliet Herald-News
on December 23, 2013 to Shaw Media.
Shaw Media has Illinois interests in St.
Charles, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, Dixon, Grayslake, Princeton, Morris and Sterling.
During the Chicago Newspaper Guild negotiations, the Guild was attempting to merge their
Herald-News agreement with the Chicago
Sun-Times agreement but failed to do so.
The Herald-News was one of many
papers purchased from Copley Press under
the Sun-Times Hollinger ownership in 2000.
No. 16 represented printers at the Aurora
Beacon-News and Elgin Courier-News and
continued to represent those workers after the
sale to Hollinger. Recently, Sun-Times Media
REGULAR UNION MEETING
Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 • 10:00 a.m.
Union Headquarters
1580 S. Milwaukee Ave. • Suite 210
Libertyville, IL 60048
closed down all of the former Copley operations except for Joliet and brought those functions to its downtown Chicago offices.
Four negotiation meetings have been held
with Alliance Printers & Publishers (Polish
Daily News), the only remaining daily foreign
newspaper printed in the United States. The
negotiations for Composing Room and Editorial Department members have been working
under a Amendment And Extension Of Agreement runs until December 31, 2013. The
extension was negotiated in an attempt to
keep the Polish paper from filing for bankruptcy last year.
We are happy to report that the paper has
made a profit last year and was saved from
bankruptcy thanks to our Composing Room
and Editorial department members. A number of management changes have taken place
over the past year which seemed to be a plus
for the operations.
The Union is attempting to negotiate wage
and benefit increases in this more favorable
climate.
Unfortunately, the newspaper, in trying to
make up for a smaller workforce and has
violated the Union’s contract in a number of
areas for which arbitration grievances have
been filed.
Your Officers wish No. 16 members and
their families, a Happy Passover (April 15th)
and a Happy Easter (April 20th).
Fraternally, Steven D. Berman
Chicago Typographical Union
1580 S. Milwaukee Avenue • Suite 208
Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Michelle Tovo, Secretary-Treasurer, Editor
TELEPHONE
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847-247-8855
Secretary-Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . 219-345-2183
OFFICERS
STEVEN D. BERMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President
DAN SOMMERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President
MICHELLE TOVO . . . . . . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer
Executice Committee
Paul Lehrer, Marcel Skonieczny, Norbert Bernauer
Internet home page: www.chicagotypographical.org
Send Your E-Mail to ChiTypo@sbcglobal.net
LAST NOTICE FOR PENSIONERS
TO PAY 2014 DUES
From The
Secretary-Treasurer
Since the next issue of the
Reporter will be in May, pensioners who have NOT yet paid 2014
dues are reminded to remit them
now. Please make the check payable to Chicago
Typographical Union No. 16. If you should
have any questions please contact me at
219-345-2183.
Members please note, it is very important
if you have moved or made any changes in information we have on file let the Union know.
Please call us and update that information.
Our website has a directory link. We do get
phone calls from businesses looking for union
shops. If you would like to have your email, fax
or any details about what your shop interests
are, please notify headquarters.
Due to the continued rising cost of postage,
monthly Proprietor dues reminder will no longer
be mailed out. Instead the monthly dues rates
notices will appear in each REPORTER and
should be maintained for future reference. Call
847-247-8855 if you have any questions.
Chapel Chairmen elections will be held in accordance with the Local Bylaws, adopted by
the membership in attendance at the regular
Union meeting held Sunday, June 29, 1980,
which read as follows: “Sec.44. (a) Election of
a chairman, to serve for a term of six months,
shall be held in each Chapel within two weeks
of January 1 and July 1 of each year. Chapels
may adopt regulations permitting the election of
a chairman to an annual term, such election to
be held within two weeks of January 1 of each
year. Voting shall be by ballot. A majority shall
be necessary to elect. Date for nominations and
voting procedures shall be set by chapel action.”
All Chairmen should employ stringent security
measures to protect Union funds. Chairmen will
be reimbursed for stolen Union funds only if they
adhere to all conditions contained in our insurance policy.
Whenever Union funds are not under direct
control of the Chapel Chairmen, they must be
kept in a locked safe. Our insurance policy will
not accept liability for losses when funds are kept
in a locked desk, cash box, locker or similar depository. Theft must be reported immediately to
the police.
Fraternally, Michelle Tovo
CHICAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION No. 16 ANNUAL BUDGET
General Fund
Expenditures
2013 Officers......................................................................................................... ...$72,278.00
52,767.00
Executive Committee.......................................................................................... 4,123.00
2,000.00
Board of Trustee................................................................................................ —
—
Recording Secretary........................................................................................... 195.00
195.00
Employer’s FICA................................................................................................ 9,676.00
9,500.00
State Unemployment Taxes................................................................................. 903.00
900.00
Federal Unemployment Taxes............................................................................. 433.00
450.00
Health and Welfare........................................................................................... —
—
CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan.................................................................... 4,200.00
4,000.00
Newspaper Scale Committee.............................................................................. 105.00
100.00
Job Scale Committee.......................................................................................... 000 100.00
Organization.................................................................................................... 2,272.00
3,500.00
Rent and Maintenance....................................................................................... 7,732.00
7,750.00
Postage-Reporter and Mailing............................................................................. 1,305.00
1,300.00
Printing-Reporter, Envelopes and Letterhead.......................................................... 1,145.00
1,600.00
Office Supplies, Computer Expense..................................................................... 570.00
500.00
Utilities............................................................................................................. 242.00
275.00
Telephone......................................................................................................... 3,190.00
3,100.00
Election Expense................................................................................................ —1,500.00
Delegate to Conferences and Convention............................................................ 210.00
500.00
Professional Services.......................................................................................... 6,500.00
4,000.00
Per Capital Tax................................................................................................. 707.00
710.00
Donations......................................................................................................... 100.00
100.00
Other Committees.............................................................................................. — 100.00
Moving Expense................................................................................................ — 500.00
Miscellaneous................................................................................................... 400.00
300.00
Insurance, Dishonesty Bond................................................................................ 475.00
1,975.00
CWA Registration Fee....................................................................................... —
—
CWA Supplies.................................................................................................. 105.00
100.00
Total Expenditures................................................................................................. ■
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Due to the current complexities, changing
benefit formulas, privacy concerns, and
the chance of misinformation being transmitted, the local will no longer be assisting
members in obtaining and completing pension
applications.
The CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan has
an expert staff on hand to assist our members
in obtaining accurate and current information
on the rights and benefits they are entitled to
from their individual accounts. Members will
be advised as to their pension status and
supplied with the necessary paperwork for
completion. Local 16 will be notified of your
retirement. However, you should contact the
Secretary-Treasurer (219-345-2183) with
regard to the amount of your retiree dues
payment.
Name
New Address
City/Town
Please check appropriate box:
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Members who are planning to retire in 2014
and thereafter should now contact the CWA/
ITU Negotiated Pension Plan directly at 830
South Nevada Avenue, Suite 120, Colorado
Springs, Colorado 80903, toll-free telephone
number 877-429-2488, at least two months in
advance of their retirement date.
Chicago Typographical Union No. 16/CWA 14408
1580 S. Milwaukee Avenue • Suite 208 • Libertyville, Illinois 60048
Beneficiary
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RETIREMENT NOTICE
Made Any Changes? Let Us Know!
Mail to:
Budget
2014
State
New Telephone (
m Active Member
m Retiree
Zip
)
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$116,866.00
$97,822.00
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Monthly Dues
Months of January, February and April 2014
Members working at the Trade–2.61%
Proprietor Members at the Trade–$78.00
Proprietors and Members Not at Trade–$66.33
Months of March 2014
Members working at the Trade–2.61%
Proprietor Members at the Trade–$97.50
Proprietors and Members Not at Trade–$80.34
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Retiree Annual Dues
Less than 60 years
CWA Membership–$44.40
Less than 60 years not
CWA Membership– $20.40
More than 60 years
CWA Membership–$24.00
More than 60 years not
CWA Membership–$12.00
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NOTICE
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RETIREES
NOTICE
CHANGE IN DUES MAILING
DUE TO THE RISING COST OF POSTAGE AND PRINTING,
RETIREES WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE A DUES LETTER.
PLEASE HELP LOCAL 16 BY CONTINUING
TO MAIL IN YOUR DUES.
2014 Executive Committee Meetings
January 6, 2014 • February 10, 2014
March 10, 2014 • April 14, 2014
May 5, 2014 • June 9, 2014
July 14, 2014 • August 11, 2014
September 2, 2014 (Tues.)
October 13, 2014 • November 10, 2014
December 8, 2014
2014 Regular Union Meeting
January 26, 2014 • May 18, 2014
September 28, 2014
SCHOLARSHIPS
CWA Joe Beirne Foundation
Scholarship Program—
2014‑2015 School Year
The Communications Workers of America
are ready once again to kick off the Joe Beirne
Foundation Scholarship Program for the 20142015 school year.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors has
approved the following:
•Fifteen (15) partial college scholarships of up
to $3,000 each, and the winners also will
receive second-year scholarships for the
same amount, contingent upon satisfactory
academic achievement.
•Eligible for scholarships are CWA members
and their spouses, children and grandchildren,
including the dependents of retired, laid off, or
deceased members. Applicants must be high
school graduates or high school students who
will graduate during the year in which they
apply. Undergraduate and graduate students
returning to school may also apply. Part-time
students, less than 12 credits, will receive half
of the scholarship monies. Prior winners may
not reapply.
Applications will be available solely online
for completion and submission to the Foundations’s website:
www.cwa-union.org/ members/beirne
Applications will be accepted until April 30,
2014–the final deadline. Early submission of
applications is encouraged. The winners will
be chosen by lottery from those submitting the
required essay. Additional information about the
program can be found at the website.
William A. Lee
Memorial Scholarship Awards
The Chicago Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
is pleased to announce that it will once again
offer five students the chance to win a $2,000
cash scholarship award.
Through the William A. Lee Memorial
Scholarship, applicants can choose to compete for academic awards based on their
grades, extra-curricular activities and college
entrance exams, or be placed in a random
drawing for scholarship prizes.
The rules governing the application process this year require that all students must
graduate from a Chicago or surrounding
suburban area high school in 2014. In addition,
they must belong, or have one of their parents
belong, to a CFL affiliated union (such as, the
Chicago Typographical Union).
To apply, students must request an application by contacting Union Headquarters.
No phone calls will be accepted for application requests. Also, each student must choose
either the academic application or random
drawing form. They will not receive both.
To be eligible for the scholarship awards, the
completed application must be returned to the
CFL office by March 1, 2014. Any application
received by the CFL postmarked after this
date or any incomplete applications, without
exception, will be disqualified.
Please note that students must obtain the
signature of either of the two top officers of the
union they or their parents are represented by
as verification of their union membership.
Good luck to the Class of 2014!
Pictured above is Chicago Typographical Union’s Memorial Plaque which honors deceased members who,
during the last 35 years, bequeathed to CTU No. 16, a substantial portion of their estates.
Members who have contributed in such a manner, include: Arthur Brendel, Herman Harke, Frieda C.
Beddoe, Charles Sinkewcz, Robert S. Getchel, Edward C. Whitford, Allen H. Strayer, Daniel E. Hill,
Edward Leider, Walter J. Jansen, Alta E. Stanley, Sydney Duncan, Charles Kulle, Ernest Neuendorf, William
F. Schwartz, Melvin J. Burt, John W Holland and William A. Trottman.
The Memorial Plaque is mounted in the Secretary’s office next to our Union’s Charter which, in January,
1875, established No. 16 as a member of the International Typographical Union. The Memorial Plaque will
be mounted in perpetuity by this Union. When deemed appropriate by the Secretary-Treasurer, additional
names will be added.
The inscription reads: “In memory of members whose names are listed below who, upon their last request, thoughtfully bequeathed a portion of their estates, in lasting tribute to their beloved Chicago
Typographical Union No. 16.”
Death Roll
Klebau, Raymond, Pensioner formerly K-C Composition, died September 12, 2013, aged 84. Initiated by
CTU No. 16 on January 2, 1958.
CHICAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION NO. 16/CWA 14408
1580 S. MILWAUKEE AVENUE • SUITE 208
LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS 60048
FIRST CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
CHICAGO, ILL.
PERMIT No. 4366
Jonsson, Eugene, Pensioner formerly Bundscho,
died September 19, 2013, aged 84. Initiated by CTU
on December 27, 1953.
Campbell, Roderick, Pensioner formerly Chicago
Tribune, died September 26, 2013, aged 87. Initiated
by CTU on November 23, 1957.
Behling, Roland, Pensioner formerly Elgin Courier
News, died September 27, 2013, aged 89. Initiated
by Elgin Typographical Union on March 7, 1943.
Muir, James, Pensioner formerly Chicago Sun-Times,
died October 8, 2013, aged 101. Initiated by CTU on
January 1, 1937.
Paladino, Joseph, Pensioner formerly Eddie Price,
died November 3, 2013, aged 83. Initiated by CTU on
January 30, 1949.
Chester L. Cocozza
1936-2013
Chester L. Cocozza, age 77, died on
November 17, 2013.
Chester served his apprenticeship at the Chicago
Tribune and at the age of 25 became a Journeyman
printer in 1961. Chester continued to work at the Chicago Tribune until August, 2001, when he retired.
During the period that Chester was working for the
Chicago Tribune, Chester was elected by the Chicago
Typographical Union local membership to numerous
International Conventions from the 120th through the
127th. The last Convention Chester attended was the
1st Printing, Publishing and Media Workers Convention in 1987. At one time, Chester held the record for
the most Conventions attended by a local officer.
While serving as our International delegate in 1978,
Chester along with then President Dave Donovan,
Vice President Bob Claps and Secretary Treasurer
Jerry Musil were instrumental in working with ITU
Industrial Pension Plan Administrator Carl Hatton, to
allow members to make individual contributions into
the Retirement Trust.
At the ITU 120th Convention, Chester served on the
merger committee where the International Mailers
Union and The Newspaper Guild were the center
of discussions. The ITU 127th convention was dominant by a proposed merger with the Communications
Workers of America at which their President Morty Bahr
addressed the delegates and presented No. 16 and
M-2 delegates with a check for $2,500.00 to aid its
efforts against the Chicago Tribune.
During the Chicago Tribune strike from July 18, 1985
to February 10, 1986, Chester could be seen at the
Union’s strike headquarters from morning until night,
in an effort the end the strike.
Our sincere condolences go out to Norine Cocozza,
Chester’s wife and their children Paul, Jean and
Steven.
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Executive Committee Reports
Tuesday, October 14, 2013
Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by
President Steven Berman. All members were
present or teleconferenced, except for Paul
Lehrer. Vice President Dan Sommers acted in
place of Mr. Lehrer. (All recommendations are
unanimous unless otherwise indicated).
Recommendations:
1. Approval of the payment of all bills for the
period ending September 30, 2013.
2. Approval of Legacy Professionals, LLP,
to perform all accounting and other Government filings pursuant to Section 34 of the local
Bylaws.
3.Approval of September 29, 2013, Union
Meeting minutes.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by
President Steven Berman. All members were
present or teleconferenced, except for Vice
President Dan Sommers and Paul Lehrer
(All recommendations are unanimous unless
otherwise indicated).
Recommendations:
1.Approval of the payment of all bills for the
period ending October 31, 2013.
–––––––
The Executive Committee formed a Merger
Committee to explore the prospect of merging
No. 16 with another CWA local. Secretary-Treasurer
Michelle Tovo and Vice President Dan Sommers were
appointed.
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HOLIDAY CLOSING
Union Headquarters will be closed on Monday, February
17, 2014, the day legally observed as President’s Day, in
accordance with action taken at the January, 1969 Regular
Union meetng.
FINANCIAL REPORTING
Pursuant to the action of the Union taken at the May 29,
2005 General Membership meeting, monthly financial
statements will no longer be published in the Reporter.
The financial statements will continue to be produced
and are available to members. Financial reporting for
October, 2012 through September 31, 2013 is now
available and may be obtained by calling or writing
Headquarters for copies.
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Monday, December 9, 2013
Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by
President Steven Berman. All members were
present or teleconferenced, except for Paul
Lehrer. Vice President Dan Sommers acted in
place of Mr. Lehrer. (All recommendations are
unanimous unless otherwise indicated).
Recommendations:
1.Approval of the payment of all bills for the
period ending November 30, 2013.
2.Approval of Holiday gifts to service workers
not to exceed $50.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by
President Steven Berman. All members were
present or teleconferenced, except for Paul
Lehrer. Vice President Dan Sommers acted in
place of Mr. Lehrer. (All recommendations are
unanimous unless otherwise indicated).
Recommendations:
1.Approval of the payment of all bills for the
period ending December 31, 2013.
2.Approval of Printing Specialties Inc., Letter
Of Understanding.
3.Approval of 2014 Budget (published elsewhere in this Reporter).
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News and Comments
Congratulations to January 60-year members Edward Fink, Richard Moreno and
James Marten; to 50-year members Albert
Hirth and Thomas Lucki.
(Pins and Certificates will be MAILED out to
those who are receiving them).
Thank you to: Frank Vedral on returning his
50 & 60 year pins; to Richard Cesaretti for
returning his 40 year pin; to Edward Kohlegk
for returning his 50 year pin.
Our sincerest sympathies to Raymond J.
Swider (retiree), on the death of his wife; to
Anna Kowalczyk (member), on the death of
her mother; to Clarance Smith (retiree), on
the death of his daughter. Congratulations to Marcel Skonieczny
(retiree) on the birth of his granddaughter.
DONATION
October, 2013
Michelle Malek (In Memory of
Ronald Heiser)..................................... $25.00