CWA NABET 57411 – General Membership Meeting Minutes December 7, 2011

1. President Bowring called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Jax Cafe. All executive members were present except Treasurer Bissionette.

2. Introduction of new members.

3. Secretary’s Report: No Secretary report at this meeting.

4. Treasurer’s Report: (given by President Bowring)
A. Condition of members: TPT still has several delinquents:
1. John Angelo $37.23
2. Steven Risenhoover $115.32
3. Lori Bartell $80.00
4. Eric Jayne $22.14
5. Michael Stern $24.05
6. Melissa Martz (WCCO) $306.06 (currently paying off)

B. Distribution of funds::
1. $10,869.47 Checking
2. $20,420.42 Defense
3. $2,075.50 Victim
4. $21,989.01 CD

$ (716.20) Decrease

C. Audit 2011 complete. No apparent issues.

D. 2012 Budget breakdown. All seems to be complete except gift card amount needs to be adjusted from $75.00 to $70.00. Bob Hernandez made motion to approve 2012 budget. Joe Berglove seconded the motion, all present approved. Motion carried to pass the 2012 budget.

4. Stewards Reports:

A. WCCO: Steward Chaney
1. Possible grievance to be filed after the AFTRA contract takes effect. Issues with the contract:
a. NABET contract was only approved with the good faith agreement that the AFTRA contract would reflect quid pro quo agreement of use of 2 photographer (NABET) positions in exchange for 2 (AFTRA) positions.
b. AFTRA members are not fully trained to use NABET equipment. However, some members (Chris Stanford) of AFTRA have already begun to receive training from management (Bill Kruskopp) on camera operations.
c. NABET members have not received any training to do AFTRA jobs.
d .NABET members believe CBS negotiators deceived them throughout the contract negotiations in order to ratify NABET contract sooner.
2. Issues with photographers having problems getting their per diems paid. Management has tried to enforce new per diem boundaries without putting a new policy in place. Management is pressuring photographers to not file per diems even though they are justified and has led to conflicts between management and photographers
3. Discussion to keep watch on where video is coming from for newscasts since there has been an increase in more video coming from outside sources other than NABET members. For example, the use of promo video in newscasts or NABET members shooting video exclusively for the web.

B. TPT: Jim Kron
1. Six grievances currently at TPT. President Bowring informed the members of the cost of grievances. ($8,000 to $10,000 per grievance)
2. Management is not calling the senior pool members first for jobs instead they are calling junior members.
3. Issues with juristricition of graphic/computer positions.
4. Management is calling meetings to discuss issues with members without allowing members to get union representation before they go into the meeting. General discussion that anytime a meeting is called with management members should have union representation or refuse to attend the meeting. Also discussed getting members trained on how to record and track problems members are having with management.
5. With Steward Kron absent from TPT with injury, its essential every member record any violations or possible violations during his absence.

6. Old Business

A. 2011 Annual Conference, members from each sector have to attend at least one meeting or they are fined.
B. Website is in transition period after the loss of webmaster.
C. President Bowring called for any new ideas on how to make the annual picnic more successful, no suggestions.
D. Steward Chaney suggested we begin to conduct various training classes for union members. Suggestions include news writing classes, more final cut pro training, and graphics training.
E. President Bowring reminded members of the Lynda training available to them. WCCO has 2 seats in training and NABET has 3 seats.

7. New Business:

A. Retirees: President Bowring polled members on their ideas on how to handle retiring members.
1. Agreement that executive board members should lay out a retirement policy based on researching what other unions do, hours of service, years in service, etc.
2. Vice President Brown will try and contact Peter Molenda and other retirees to see if they want to represent the union or be involved in a plan for local retirees. Currently there is no across the board retirement plan for NABET members, only programs established in New York. Question on whether we should set up a Midwest group for union members. Matter will be discussed more at the April General Meeting.
B. Going Green: President Bowring polled members on moving to a more web based system of communication. Most members seemed positive about receiving email invites and moving to a more online based way of communicating. Secretary Konopliv also will put up a bulletin board in the WCCO photo lounge where members can post.

8. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM and the next E. Bd. meeting will be at O’Garas at 6:00 PM on January 11. 2012.