Friday, September 25, 2009
Media / News Bites Jim Tyree Responds
Posted by Michael Miner on 09.25.09 at 03:56 PM
In the difficult passage of the Sun-Times Media Group from its present owners to a group of investors led by financier James Tyree, Thursday was a particularly awkward day. First interim CEO Jeremy Halbreich issued a statement insisting on the inflexibility of a September 29 deadline for the STMG unions to approve the new working terms Tyree requests. Then the bankruptcy judge in Delaware dismissed that deadline as mere "posturing" on the part of the company.
On Friday, Tyree spoke up.
A statement from STMG Holdings, which is what his investors group is calling itself, asserted that "time is of the essence," and that the concessions Tyree is asking of the unions are those "we truly believe are necessary to turn the business around." These concessions have been received by the Newspaper Guild as measures that would essentially turn all of STMG into a nonunion shops, and they've been overwhelmingly rejected by guild employees at the papers in Joliet, Waukegan, and Gary, as well as at the Sun-Times and Pioneer Press.
Here's the complete statement:
One more step, an important one, has been taken in our process to acquire the Chicago Sun-Times and its sister papers. Yesterday, the bid procedures and Asset Purchase Agreement we negotiated with the company were approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. This is an important step; however, we recognize that there are still several hurdles, including four major ones.
First, the agreement requires that no material adverse change occur to the business between now and closing. Second, it is contingent upon the approval of amendments to the collective bargaining agreements by each of the company's unions. Third,we must be the successful bidder at the company's upcoming auction on October 7. Fourth, time is of the essence — the longer the process takes, the less likely it is that we will be able to succeed.
We realize that these hurdles are high and we do not take any of them for granted. We understand the concerns of union members about the amendments that we believe are necessary to save the papers. We are hopeful that as all facts become known, union members will realize that we are supporters of organized labor, not adversaries. We have proposed the only solution we know that will give us a chance to retain 1,800 jobs, including over 600 union positions. We have not suggested concessions beyond those we truly believe are necessary to turn the business around.
We do face challenges from competition who may be interested in seeing the Sun-Times Media Group papers stop publishing. At yesterday's hearing, the judge agreed that liquidation bidders, who might seek to buy and sell off the assets of the Sun-Times, would be allowed to submit qualified bids to compete with bids like ours that seek to continue operating the newspapers. Furthermore, representatives of the Sun-Times' biggest competitor were in the courtroom.
Finally, there have been many misleading and negative reports about the necessary timeline and approval process. We are committed to continue to work hard to complete the transaction. To protect the future of the Sun-Times Media Group business, however, it is crucial for us to achieve the union amendments promptly for a closing as quickly as possible after the October 8 sale hearing. Time remains of the essence to save this institution.
We are committed to doing all we can to work through each of these issues. We recognize this process is difficult because we are asking a lot of the Sun-Times Media Group employees. The only way for our plan to succeed is if the union and non-union employees believe in and are excited about the potential of rebuilding a successful business. We look forward to working together to that end.
Comments (81)
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"We have proposed the only solution we know that will give us a chance to retain 1,800 jobs, including over 600 union positions. We have not suggested concessions beyond those we truly believe are necessary to turn the business around."
So now he's talking about retaining all 1,800 jobs. Great! So I guess wiping out severance isn't really all that necessary, is it, Jimbo? If everyone stays, that's zero severance to pay, right? Right?
Still waiting for someone to adequately explain the obvious clash of intentions going on there.
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MISTER TYREE: THIS IS FROM THE UNION - BITE ME!
The REAL Sun-Times Media Group STORY!!
29th and counting??
Sept. 29 was the date that James Tyree had publicly set as the deadline to walk away from his bid for the Sun-Times and its 58 suburban publications if all 18 unions didn’t cave-in and accept cuts in pay and severance, freeze pensions and, in the case of the Chicago Newspaper Guild’s four editorial units, give up virtually all rights governing seniority, jurisdiction and grievances. But what Tyree — through his spokesman CEO Jeremy Halbreich — hasn’t told you is the rest of the story:
Sept. 29 was the date that Tyree and Halbreich now admit to the competing Chicago Tribune was picked to “coincide with the date of non-union pay cuts and … keep the heat on given the company’s financial condition.”
Even as Judge Christopher Sontchi was calling Tyree’s position “posturing,” Halbreich was distributing a memo to employees reiterating the Sept. 29 deadline and explaining “why is it up to the unions to decide if we stay in business,” an attempt to further foment non-union versus union conflict.
The real deal:
Jim Tyree’s take-it-or-leave-it proposal would decimate virtually every sentence in the Guild’s 54-page contract with the Sun-Times, and those of the Pioneer Press, the Waukegan News-Sun and the Joliet Herald News. Although he is offering to “accept” the current contracts for three-years, he is insisting that we sign an ancillary document that gives him the right to nullify any provision that “might prevent, impede or increase the cost” of his business plan.
The Guild is willing, ready and able to negotiate on every issue related to a new owner’s ability to make this company profitable for all of us. Our problem is that the ultimatum effectively eliminates not only our contract but also our ability to negotiate a replacement.
Described in media accounts as merely “some work rules,” here are just some of things Tyree is asking us to give up:
Fair System of Force Reduction. Several pages of the contract spell out the process of layoffs, calling for advance notice to the Guild, the taking of voluntary resignations as an alternative to discharges, making the reduction in inverse seniority order, the ability of those laid off to be rehired if conditions improve. All of that would be gone and the company could get rid of anyone at anytime.
Just Cause Discharges. The current contract requires the company to have “just and sufficient cause” to fire an employee. Under the proposal the company could simply dismiss an employee through a layoff.
Protection Against Involuntary Transfers. Employees could not only be forced to move to another city under the proposal, they could be scheduled to work in a different location each day of the week.
Vacation Scheduling. The contract spells out not only the amounts of vacation employees are entitled to, but the system of selecting vacation dates. None of that would mean anything under the proposal because the new owner would be able to set it aside.
Work Schedules. The contract defines the length of the workday and work week, specifies the number of hours between shifts and the notice that must be given before changing schedules. If, in the new owner’s “managerial discretion” any of those things increased the company’s costs or impeded its business plan, they could be ignored.
Protection Against Replacement by Temporary Employees. Currently, the contract says the company won’t displace full-time employees by hiring temporary workers. The new owner could give Guild work to anyone at anytime and discharge Guild members.
Restrictions on Use of Stringers and Freelancers. The contract spells out limitations on the use of work from these independent contracts. For example, they can’t come into the office and file stories on VDTs. There would be no restrictions under the proposal.
Parenting Leave. Employees can now take up to 12 months leave in connection with the birth or adoption of a child. If, in the new owner’s discretion, such leave would impede the business plan, it could be denied. The same thing is true for sick leave and funeral leave – “managerial discretion” trumps old contract language.
Obviously, the list could go on and on, through every nook and cranny of the contract. The Guild is not saying that contract language is sacred and can’t be changed. We are ready and willing to negotiate changes. What is unacceptable, however, is to simply replace our contract with “managerial discretion” and have to wait three years to work out something both sides can live with.
What now?
The Chicago Newspaper Guild will continue to talk with management and press to negotiate. As far as we’re concerned, there’s no relevance to the Sept. 29 date or to Oct. 8, the date when Sontchi is scheduled to decide whether to approve Tyree’s deal that Tyree and Halbreich are now beginning to float as a new deadline.
The Sun-Times Media Group’s union employees also continue to work with the 15 percent pay and benefits cuts they voluntarily imposed upon themselves in March. Our reduced salaries contributed to a reported positive cash flow for the company in August.
James: I promise, the union will fight you every inch of the way, and tell that to your pet monkey, Jeremy. You represent the destruction of quality and the destruction of a competitive wage. Billionaires like you would love to see every middle class worker earning a $1 per hour. We've had enough scheisters in the Sun-Times. We sure don't need another one. Let us die in peace.
"So now he's talking about retaining all 1,800 jobs. Great! So I guess wiping out severance isn't really all that necessary, is it, Jimbo? If everyone stays, that's zero severance to pay, right? Right?
Still waiting for someone to adequately explain the obvious clash of intentions going on there."
I can't explain any obvious clash of intentions because there are no obvious clash of intentions. Jim Tyree does not have a crystal ball. He cannot magicly see into the future and know what the business conditions may be like in a year or two. No business executive can do this, contrary to what people seem to expect of them. So quite obviously, the conclusion that can be drawn is that he plans to keep most of the staff on board but needs the flexibility that would allow him to make the neccessary tough decisions if the business further detiorates. Does that make sense to you? The newspaper industry has been going through a free-fall. It certainly seems logical that if one wants to purchase the weakest company in this extreamly weak industry that it is quite reasonable for him to expect that he be allowed the ability to make any neccessary changes in a manner that does not add extraordinary costs. It is worth mentioning again, he was the only person willing to purchase the entire company. You cannot demand that his hands be tied if conditions turn for the worse. You need to allow the company to be saved.
No More B.S.,
If every middle class worker were paid $1 an hour, that $1 would not be what we think of it as. But to address the point you were attempting to make, no, Tyree would not be happy if all or most middle class workers were paid lower wages. That wouldn't help him out as there would be less demand for the services offered at Meisrow Financial. And it would mean that STMG would be long out of business, since they couldn't even get the revenue from advertisers that they do now since nobody would be able to purchase anything. So we wouldn't be having this discussion.
"So quite obviously, the conclusion that can be drawn is that he plans to keep most of the staff on board but needs the flexibility that would allow him to make the neccessary tough decisions if the business further detiorates. Does that make sense to you?"
Oh, it makes perfect sense -- if you're naive enough to believe something just because Jim Tyree and Jeremy Halbreich say it's true. And only a fool would do that at this point.
Flexibility is not the issue. It's whether we can trust at a basic level what these men are telling us about our futures with this company. And quite frankly, after the revelations of this week, the Guild employees of STMG cannot trust them. Handing "flexibility" to someone who's already been scolded by a judge for conning you ... well, you might as well just hand over everything.
I noticed you did NOT address the memo from the union. Nor did you deny plans to gut the union contract. There is no union if there are no terms of employment. You cannot claim to be pro-union and destroy the contract at the same time. This is hypocrisy and the primary reason no union employees will accept your terms.
While a cut in pay is acceptable (though why the union members must take 15% when everyone is at 8% isn't right since many union members are not anywhere near the top of the scale), the gutting of a union contract, leaving us with a shell - giving management carte blanche - is not acceptable.
The reason the company is in trouble is not due to employees. It is due to thieves. Not only did Conrad Black and Radler steal, the Sun-Times continues to pay Black's legal bills - now at $125 million. Cyrus continued the looting and pillaging and heaven knows what Jeremy is up to. Why should we trust anyone at the Sun-Times? We'd be fools to swallow their BS and pretend it's honey.
The company is also in trouble because the so-called powers that be continue to give news away for free on the internet. What genius allows this? Basic common sense dictates that you don't buy the cow when you get the milk for free. So, this is the best the MBAs of the 1980s can do? What sheer and utter incompetence. No wonder our overweight country is dying.
You are allowing the hiring and contracting of people who cannot necessarily write or report well. What kind of product will you be offering the public and who will want to buy it? How is this type of action going to save the company? Who is going to buy a paper written by amateurs?
If you're looking to raise the profit margin by cutting the company to the bone, it will work only if you plan on either liquidating or selling. If you are truly a newspaper man - if indeed you want to keep the Sun-Times in Chicago - it is a mistake to cheapen the product.
Finally, there are rumors flying that Halbreich is one of the partners buying the company. Clearly, this is suspect if not an outright conflict of interest. That you're keeping your partners a secret breeds suspicion.
There are many of us who feel the Sun-Times and its sister papers are already dead. The publications have been killed by greed - by bigwigs who pocketed the profit rather than re-investing it in the product. Our refusal to kowtow would be a kind euthanasia.
Yes, yes, there are few jobs to be had right now. The economic picture is bleak. The demand for employees is far less than the supply. Therefore, "businessmen" feel they can ask employees to take any amount of abuse.
But, you seriously underestimate the amount of frustration, disillusionment and cynicism we as employees have had to swallow. We're journalists by trade - proud of our profession. Though it would possibly mean the end of the company, it is highly unlikely that the unions will agree to your terms.
A dollar is a dollar is a dollar. Some people chase dollars their entire life and never get enough. Others are merely trying to survive. But as it has been throughout history, the rich get richer by drinking the blood of the poor.
May you get what you want and what you need.
If my community newspaper ceases to exist in a couple weeks, I will be furious beyond belief. You can bet your ass I'll be holding a grudge against people on both sides of the table. That's all I have to say.
"Cyrus continued the looting and pillaging"
Examples? Evidence?
"The company is also in trouble because the so-called powers that be continue to give news away for free on the internet. What genius allows this? Basic common sense dictates that you don't buy the cow when you get the milk for free. So, this is the best the MBAs of the 1980s can do? What sheer and utter incompetence."
There are few people who believe more than I do that the decision by nearly every newspaper in the country to give their content away for free was completely stupid and is the major reason for the industry's downfall. I have stated this many times on this blog. But the Sun-Times, The Southtown Star, and most of the other papers in the company cannot start charging for their content when they have stronger competitors who are still giving it away. That would be commiting suicide. Your complaint is with the industry as a whole, not the company.
"There are many of us who feel the Sun-Times and its sister papers are already dead. The publications have been killed by greed - by bigwigs who pocketed the profit rather than re-investing it in the product."
And what is your point? The people who did that are long gone. One is in jail and another has been there. What purpose does it serve to project your understandable anger on people who have nothing to do with it? And if you believe the company is already dead, as you say, than it certainly doesn't support your argument of the ability to achieve considerably fewer concessions than Tyree is asking. You need to take a realistic and objective look at the situation going forward. Yes, it is unfortunate that there were management abuses in the past. But the people currently in charge had nothing to do with it. How would you like it if people acted as if every journalist was like Jayson Blair? That is exactly what you are doing by projecting the conduct of Black and Radler on the current and potential management.
And, by the way, if there were not people who chased dollars their entire life then there wouldn't be a newspaper for you to work at in the first place.
If you truly believe the Sun-Times and its sister papers are already dead, then please, quit your job. Sticking around just to stubbornly vote no and drag us all down with you is insanely selfish.
"All I want is the Truth" makes some excellent points. People who are jaded by past events look at the future with skepticism. We're not getting the entire story. Important facts are being hidden. Withholding information doesn't foster the warm, fuzzy feeling of trust, I guess.
This story is vastly different depending on your source, as it seems that every publication reporting on it, including internal memos, has a different spin on it. It sort of reminds me of the old days when the Soviet Union would have its own spin on the news. Unfortunately this just makes it hard to tell who really knows what they are talking about. There was a period of a few hours on Thursday when it looked like we were actually getting a reprieve and finally had some good news, but now I think it's just as bad as it ever was, only now our deadline is pushed back a week. A lot of people here want to only believe the stories that support their point of view, but I'd caution them not to be so sure there's such a rosy outlook. I still think we're out of business come mid-October if there's no deal.
If the Unions sign on will management withdraw their bonus plan request or will we have another Tribune deal...
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/new…
Thanks for that link, Papers. It confirms all suspicions that things aren't any better across the street. It is really shameful for Trib executives to ask for $70 million to give management bonuses when they've laid off so many great journalists and photographers that could make their product better. If I were the bankruptcy judge I'd make them rehire all those people at the salaries they had when they left before I'd consider giving one penny in bonuses. Similarly it is laughable that the Sun-Times would ask for bonuses, too. Why on earth would the Guild agree to gut its contract while the people asking them to do it are going to profit from it?
I'm not super familiar with the whole situation, but I do believe that if the Sun-Times doesn't take these concessions they will be out of business. Short version--would you rather have less money and some uncertainty, or no money? I think Chicago cannot sustain 2 newspapers at this time. Washington, DC, my hometown, figured out that joining forces and being a 1-newspaper town was the best option YEARS ago, WAY before this crisis. DC took the best reporters and editors from the defunct paper, added them to the Post staff, and the Post became twice as good. In a bad economy, nothing is guaranteed. Pensions, salaries, benefits are all dependent on the success of the company. If the company is bankrupt, hard choices have to be made. The Sun Times can complain all they want, but if they don't do something drastic at least for the short term they will cease to exist.
1800 jobs will not be saved when Tyree and friends purchase the company. Reliable sources claim there will be a further 25 - 30% reduction in staff across all STNG properties. There is your truth. Obviously, no job can be guaranteed given the current situation.
elleng, Sun-Times Guild employees are perfectly willing to do something drastic, take large paycuts, work on economic issues. They are not willing to vote themselves out of existence, which is what they are being asked to do.
The list of conditions given to the Guild is a union-busting document, pure and simple. Tyree might very well be able to convince the bankruptcy court to impose those conditions on the Guild, but then he'd be exposed as a union buster --- risky business for him with the volume of union funds invested with his Mesirow Financial. So instead, he's trying to convince the Guild to bust itself.
The certainty of massive job loss within the Guild would have made that a tough sell even if the court hadn't called out STMG execs on the big lie of the phony Sept. 29 deadline. But there were enough people who feared for their jobs, and who thought they might be among those spared if they capitulated, that a re-vote might have approved the concessions. Now, anger over the big lie seems to have stiffened resolve. Economic concessions are inevitable, but concessions over job security issues have become more unlikely.
So Tyree and STMG execs have to decide. Do they press the court to vacate the Guild contract, with the risk that brings to Tyree's primary business? Do they hold out and hope the Guild capitulates despite the new anger they've brought upon themselves? Or do they take the economic concessions the Guild is willing to give, and compromise on the other issues?
Fingers crossed, I believe you are right. And you too, Six of one.
The original IAC? Go away.
Sure, there is more distrust than ever. But what does that change? It's nothing new. We've either got a chance to stay employed or we can all go sing Kumbaya together. Any reasonable person would rather have their job spared than the Guild spared. Tyree doesn't have a thing to lose here. That's our biggest problem.
Actually, Tyree has millions to loose if he purchases STMG and it still doesn't survive.
Apparently, the Guild thinks that 1,800 jobs is nothing to loose. It's going to interesting to see how they pay their bills with their principles. It's not as though journalists are in high demand right now.
The original IAC ... probably stands for "I'm a Company man." And despite any evidence contrary to his point of view, the Company man stands with the company and its point of view. There have been many "company men" at STNG who played this game. They've helped run the place into the ground, welcoming the recession as suitable cover and hiding behind Conrad Black's criminality as a distraction that masks their own mismanagement of these newspapers.
I work at the sun-times. It will be interesting to see what type of union jobs all my fellow reporters and editors will find after we close up shop in a few weeks. Me, I'll take not having a union and having some chance of having a job over the near certainty of not having a job.
Hopefully there are enough sensible people like Suntimesguy to overcome short-sighted blowhards like Papers and Rippy.
Fresh News:
Sun-Times may have 2nd bidder...
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/new…
One more of Mr. Halbrech's unequivocal statements proven wrong.
Pathological liar status?
At the bidders request?
Perhaps for the same reason(s) Mr. Halbrech has not talked of the other interested bidders: confidentiality agreements...
Can someone please tell us what is being done to get this resolved besides waiting for Tyree to blink?
Are any bargaining units planning to meet and revisit this? Perhaps schedule another vote? Or have a real negotiation with Tyree? In typical union fashion, if the guild chapters are doing anything, they are keeping it a secret. That may be fine with their rank and file, but not so fine with the rest of us who are also affected.
This whole conversation reminds me of the early Christians who gladly went to their deaths for the glory of the Lord. I just don't remember them dragging other people into the lions' den with them.
Te-He,
Did you even read the article you linked to? The union leader stated that this mysterious bidder "reached out to the union first". He wasn't part of the earlier bidding process.
Obviously, this looks like some rather bizarre union stunt. If this bidder were serious I think we would have heard from him earlier.
This article looks ridiculous. A secret bidder who reached out to the union. It's like something a child would say. Quit playing games.
IAC
Sure I read the story, you, apparently didn't read my response: I was answering the question: Why was the bidder was being kept secret? And how that is not unusual in this type of process as demonstrated in past practice.
IAC:
You lost all credibility when your outrage was focused on 'copyright violations' in posting stories rather then the information in the stories, You totally ignored the substance of the story (That the union busting games being played were exposed --and denied-- by the bankruptcy judge.) and attacked the poster. You are a company shill complicit in their dishonest behavior.
You have an agenda and you ignore, or attack, what does not serve your agenda.
inthemiddle-
Read Halbrech's letter of the 24th, then the judges ruling, Then Halbrech's letter of the 25th: That's ridiculousness. That's twisted, parsed, pathological lying.
But lets explore the contrary idea: What would be served by lying about a second bidder?
There is a big difference between "some guy told me he might bid" and "we have a second bidder." As of right now, only one group has put their money where their mouths are. What is gained? Well, it makes Halbreich look even worse in the eyes of the rank and file, which means more of them will be opposed to Tyree's terms. Why would the union brass want this? Because they still think they're in a negotiation, and they can bargain on some of these terms. They can't. This tactic will only kill the only real deal on the table. But for some reason, the union leaders can't see this situation for what it is.
Here's Hoping:
I'm always amazed at typification's like 'Union Brass' or Crain's 'Union Boss'-- The union is 3 guys in an office downtown. They will, without a doubt, loose their jobs along with the rest of us if Tyree's is the only bid and it doesn't go through since there will be no more due's being collected. Their job is to do the members biding; they're "not the boss of me."
One could argue that accepting Tyree's bid is in their own best financial interests. This is about much more then that.
In fact the bankruptcy judge called the behavior of Halbrech and Tyree posturing and 'bad faith'.
I don't think there is anything, anyone, could do to make Halbrech look worse.
I believe the union members see thing crystal clear, which is why they have directed their Executive Director to do what he is doing.
Just a funny observation: The Tribune is asking the bankruptcy court to be allowed disperse 70 million dollars in bonuses, Kind of makes you think about how tiny Tyree's offer is.
Hmmm... the Trib might be interested in parts: Pioneer, Doings: Just a little bonus money, chump change...
"Sure I read the story, you, apparently didn't read my response: I was answering the question: Why was the bidder was being kept secret? And how that is not unusual in this type of process as demonstrated in past practice."
I wasn't responding to that post. I was responding to your earlier post stating:
"One more of Mr. Halbrech's unequivocal statements proven wrong.
Pathological liar status?"
The union admits that this buyer was not part of the bidding process in which Halbrech stated that Tyree was the only willing buyer. So what exactly is the lie you are talking about?
I have stated earlier that I am do not work for the company or even the industry. I never have and I doubt I ever will. I am not involved with these negotiations in any manner. I will once again post a link demonstrating the fact that I have been posting on this blog since well this sale process began about many things other than the Sun-Times: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl…
So you are willing to gamble 1,800 jobs on a maybe? Your description of the way this works is lacking. The rank and file look to the leaders of the union, the ones who are actually in on the negotiations, to tell them what's going on. They use that information to decide which way to vote. The smaller unions then look at the Sun-Times union and most of the time vote right along with them. The three guys in an office have a tremendous amount of influence, and you know it. If they wanted to, they could kill this deal just by spreading misinformation and rumors. Like saying there's a second bidder, when only one bidder has emerged. Or like saying that Halbreich is one of the mystery investors in Tyree's group.
Tyree's offer is small. That's because our company has been bleeding money for years, and no one wants to buy a newspaper. Do you really think people have been lining up to pay huge sums of money for the Sun-Times, and Halbreich has been turning them away? Who are these people? Why hasn't any other media outlet found them and talked to them?
Halbreich's lie was stupid and regrettable. But the situation appears unchanged to me. If Tyree doesn't have everything in place by October 7, the deal will not go through, and 1,800 people will be out of jobs. It seems to me that the union is hell-bent on liquidation. Why else would they petition the judge to allow liquidation companies to bid at the auction? I just can't understand why. Do you really think the Sun-Times is going to get a better deal than this one? How does liquidation help anyone?
Yes, the company has been bleeding money for years, but for a puny $5 million he's getting $320 million in assets. True, he won't be able to sell them off all at once, but if things don't work out, it's an option. Nothing like getting back 60 times what you spent on something, eh?
Sell them off to who? Who wants them? If they're worth $320 million, you'd think someone else would be at the table, offering more than $5 million. Right? And if Halbreich turned these other bidders away, in an apparent setup, you'd also think someone from the Tribune would have found out, and talked to them. I've heard nothing about any other real, named bidder. Have you?
IAC:
I can't make sense of what you're saying regarding my earlier post.
And, again: Please respond to the point-- You attack the messenger rather then the substance of to articles posted: You are pursuing an agenda.
Here's hoping:
The gamble was Halbrech's: he gambled your jobs, he decided to play chicken.
My description is based in having been part of the union for over 20 years, I do know what I'm talking about ---Been there: have you?
The Tribune bonuses/Tyree's offer/size was an observation.
You need to consider what the judge said: Posturing; bad faith; till the end of December.
The company suffers no additional financial loss waiting since the 15% cuts remain in effect.
Everything changed with the Judge's ruling, Halbrech's trying to obfuscate: If there were no other bidders why was their specific language in the offer that tried to prevent anyone from bidding for parts. Again Halbrech lies, manipulates for his own undefined ends. Or, is the judge wrong and "just not getting it"?
Since we have established that Halbrech has no compunction about lying (the Tribune quote.), how do we know when he's telling the truth? Is he really trying to save 1800 jobs or just setting up one of his buddies (Kempner-Davidson for instance) to cash in on the liquidation and laying it at the union's feet. Is tyree's offer a 'bad faith' offer intended to position some other darker horse? They tried to completely cover him if he withdrew.
Where's the truth, where's the lie?
Te-He, I have considered what the judge said. His comments were entirely about the made-up September 29 deadline. He never said the company will have enough money to get to December 8 (which is merely when the purchase agreement expires), nor did he give any indication what his ruling would be if Tyree puts forth a bid on October 8 without the union concessions. So it's a gamble. But nothing about the situation has changed.
If you think there are other bidders just waiting in the wings, if you think Tyree is dumb enough to put himself out there to cover for one of Halbreich's buddies, if you really think Halbreich is smart enough to conduct this vast conspiracy right under everyone's noses, then prove it. Tell me who the bidders are, and how much they offered. Until then, as far as I can see, there is only one bidder. And it is the union, right now, gambling with 1,800 jobs.
If you want me to comment on the issue that has everyone so riled up, fine. You guys are in a union. You chose to form a union (or, to be more specific, your predecessors did years ago and you chose to continue it). When you unionize, you are making a decision to create an advisarial negotiating process on issues such as pay, benefits, and work rules. When this occurs, it is rather nonsensical to complain when the other side becomes advisarial. That is just what the process is. And it is a process that you guys chose over the more conventional nonunion system of employment. When there is an adversarial process both sides are going to use at least some degree of deception and may make misleading statements. As Here's Hoping mentioned, you guys have clearly done the same thing. Unsubstantiated statements have been made on a daily basis here such as the accusations that Halberich is a silent bidder. There also seems to be a concerted effort to rally the troops by attempting to make Tyree, Halberich, and other executives into bad guys. Now you guys mention that there is a mysterious bidder that just came forward but for some reason expressed its offer to the union rather than management.
When there is a negotiating process between a union and management, neither side is going to be completely honest. I have never once seen a case where that occured. It just can't be done. I think it is in Tyree's interest, for example, to allow a deal to be reached that gives union leaders the chance to go to their members and act as if they accomplished something, however little it may be. You cannot decide to belong to a union and then complain when the other side makes statements that perhaps give a slightly misleading spin to some facts. That is just part of the process that you chose. The reality is you work for an ENORMOUSLY troubled company in an ENORMOUSLY troubled industry in the midst of the worst economic downturn in most of our lifetimes. You don't have a lot of leverage in this negotiation. There seems to be a reluctance among many people to accept this. This self-delusion has spilled out with a bunch of bizarre angry comments not only about Sun-Times current and potential management but also about executives in general and even capitalism in general. All this when you have been given a lifeline that many people predicted was unlikely to occur. I really find it rather sad and pathetic.
Here's hoping:
What the judge suggested was that The posturing intending to rush the unions was a sign of bad faith relative to his offer. That's significant. The point is its nuts to sign a contract with an owner before he's an owner. I hope the unions wait till after auction closes. Then they know who they're dealing with: there is enough time for that. everything else is a "little man behind the curtain."
No vast conspiracy, a much smaller one then Black & Radler's: which wasn't imagined.
I started research as soon as Halbrech's name was mentioned through Kempner-Davidson's machinations. He, initially seemed like a decent guy, built and sold his own local newspaper chain. He was involved with: the SanDiego Union, SF chronicle, deals, and other smaller paper deals. He has media holding in Australia and associations all over the place. K-D has involvement all over the place also: They are part owner, now, of The Minneapolis star- involved in that bankruptcy, they also hold notes with the Tribune; they are involved in a lot of media machinations--right now, as is Halbrech. I think the public information is just the tip of it.
There's a lot of information out there, but please, do not take my word for it: do the research as I have; maybe you'll believe that, or maybe you'll prove me wrong.
I'm convinced the right course is being taken, for now.
IAC, you missed the whole point, there is no negotiations with the company. They made a "take it or leave it" demand. That was managments bet.
OK. If that's the case then you guys had better take it. Otherwise, you will all be out of a job and the company will cease to exist.
Note to Chicago Newspaper Guild memo-writer: exclamation points diminish credibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All you anti-Guild ranters and crybabies are making a huge mistake by blaming the Guild for something that hasn't even happened yet. You don't know that Tyree won't make a deal at the last minute. You don't know there are no other bidders. You DO know that all the Guild wants is a fair and honest negotiation. And you know that Jeremy Halbreich is an admitted liar. I can't speak for anyone at the Sun-Times or its suburban papers but I sure as heck wouldn't want to work for him or with him and would be willing to gamble that there's something better out there. The Guild should stand its ground. Sometimes doing the right thing bears a heavy burden, but then the rewards are often greater.
Likewise, Fed Up, you don't know that Tyree won't just walk away, or that there are any other bidders, or that Jeremy Halbreich has lied about anything else, including the precarious nature of the company's situation. You don't know that all 1,800 jobs will not disappear after October 8. That's the gamble the union is taking, and it seems very dangerous to me, especially since 1,200 of those jobs are non-union, and the people who do them have already given up everything they're being asked for.
And in fact, the precarious nature of STMG is a matter of public record and cannot be denied. Nobody has yet disputed that there is a an extreamly strong possiblity that the company will run out of cash very shortly and will need to shut down. So the union would be playing with fire if they do not take the October 8th deadline seriously. And make no mistake, if no deal is made and this company is destroyed the union will be shunned by history for causing a media organization to shut down. In addition, the labor movement will take one huge step back in its attempt to convince the world that unions do not cause entire companies to die. In every labor dispute, people will mention the 2009 Sun-Times Guild as the example of what could go wrong if a union fails to properly interpret a situation and pushes too hard for something that is not reasonable. You will be villified by people of all ideologies and backgrounds.
IAC: You sure have a lot of intimate knowledge about this situation for someone with no interest in it.
You are either full of it or have a strange fetish for pedantic pro-corporate diatribes.
If you really have no personal stake, why not butt out of the debate, and let the folks on the line slug it out?
You've made and made and made your point.
Repeatedly.
As for those laying this mess solely at the union's feet, why not expend as much energy trying to convince management—maybe starting with your immediate supervisor on Tuesday—to sit down and talk with us. "Take it or leave it" simply will not fly.
I respectfully disagree, IAC. I think the Guild will looked upon as heroes to millions of hardworking Americans out there who are just as much victims of corporate greed as anyone in the STMG organization. It's time for people to start standing up for what is right and to be heard and to not allow the already incredibly wealthy few to keep filling their pockets on the sweat of the middle class, the lower middle class and the poor. How do you think the housing market collapsed and economy tanked in the first place? Corporate greed, plain and simple. It's time for people to fight back, if they have the means. It looks as if the Guild has the means right now.
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