| Union
Membership
Increasing
Union
membership
increased
by
428,000
in
2008,
the
largest
increase
in
the
past
25
years.
Most
of
the
new
members
are
government
employees.
The
number
of
unionized
government
workers
increased
by
275,000
in
2008.
Private
sector
unionized
workers
increased
by
150,000.
The
percentage
of
workers
in
unions
increased
to
12.4%
from
12.1%
in
2007.
The
percentage
of
employees
belonging
to
unions
in
1983
was
20.1%.
36.8%
of
government
employees
currently
belong
to
unions
while
only
7.6%
of
private
sector
employees
belong
to
unions.
11.4%
of
workers
in
the
manufacturing
sector
belong
to
unions.
16.1
million
workers
belonged
to
unions
by
the
end
of
2008.
The
next
big
push
in
union
organizing
efforts
will
occur
in
the
House
and
the
Senate
when
the
card
check
bill
(aka,
the
Employee
Free
Choice
Act)
is
debated.
To
learn
how
to
diffuse
union
organizing
at
your
plant,
be
sure
to
tune
in
to
the
FREE
webinar on
May
12
presented
by
member
firm
Offit
Kurman.
"Managing
to
Avoid
Unionization"
will
touch
on
management
practices
that
undermine
the
effectiveness
of
union
overtures
and
organization
strategies,
lawful
means
for
eliminating
unions
and
union
interferences
as
well
as
how
to
negotiate
new
cost-savvy
bargaining
agreements.
Contact
the
firm
directly
to
register, 443-738-1582.
Good
and
Bad
News
from
Obama
Administration
Good
news
first:
Last
Monday
President
Obama
announced
a
new
effort
to
get
credit
to
small
businesses.
The
Treasury
Dept.
will
commit
$15
billion
to
purchase
small
business
loan
securities
while
SBA
(Small
Business
Administration)
will
guarantee
their
7(a)
loan
program
up
to
90
percent
in
order
to
encourage
lending.
The
SBA
will
also
temporarily
eliminate
fees
for
some
of
their
loan
programs.
Printing
Industries
of
America
welcomed
the
president's
recognition
of
the
importance
of
small
business
issues,
and
released
a
statement
calling
for
continued
consideration
of
policies
that
will
promote
small
business
growth.
And now for the bad news:
President Obama's 2010
Budget proposal contains
tax increases which could
affect more than four
million individuals who
run small businesses,
including printing and
graphic communications
companies. Obama currently
claims that his budget
reduces taxes for 95
percent of workers, but
tax increases are inevitable
to sustain the increased
federal spending that
is also proposed. In
a letter to Congress,
Printing Industries of
America called for a
rejection of the tax
increases contained in
the budget.
Special
Offer
on
Printing
Contracts
Book
PGAMA
has
a
special
deal
for
members,
providing
extra
savings
on
one
of
the
newest
releases
from
Printing
Industries
of
America: Printing
Sales
Contracts:
Samples
from
the
Industry.
With
this
book
as
your
guide,
you
can
avoid
troublesome
and
time-consuming
challenges
of
writing
sales
contracts.
Compiled
by
the
Printing
Industries
of
America
Human
Relations
Department,
it
offers
a
large
collection
of
sample
printing
sales
contracts,
including:
Fulfillment
Agreements,
Commercial
Agreements,
Magazine
Agreements,
Book
Agreements,
and
Confidentiality
Agreements.
Regular
member
cost
for
the
book
is
$80,
but
if
you
order
direct
from
PGAMA
by
April
10,
you
can
purchase
this
invaluable
tool
for
$68. Call
the
office
to
place
your
order,
410-319-0900/877-319-0906.
MD
to
Benefit
from
Stimulus
Package
There
will
be
about
$160
M
in
discretionary
funds
coming
to
Maryland
as
a
result
of
the
federal
stimulus
package.
These
monies
are
still
to
be
appropriated
by
Governor
O'Malley,
and
decisions
are
being
discussed
on
their
use.
Although
the
State
Operating
Budget
now
moving
through
the
House
and
Senate
is "lean" and
has
resulted
in
many
cuts,
there
will
be
a
strong
attempt
by
the
Governor
to
restore
programs
with
these
funds,
which
may
provide
renewed
impetus
to
existing
projects,
create
new
projects,
and
help
restore
monies
that
have
been
lost. Governor
O'Malley
has
taken
a
page
from
the
President
Obama
play
book
and
created
a
web
site
just
to
show
use
of
the
monies.
Track
the
usage
and
see
if
any
of
the
spending
creates
opportunities
for
your
business
at: http://statestat.maryland.gov/recovery.asp.
Tech
Tip
of
the
Week:
Finishing
for
Digital
Print
When
printing
perfect-bound
books
on
your
digital
press,
there
are
a
couple
things
you
must
consider
that
can
affect
the
integrity
of
the
book.
First,
if
you
are
printing
the
covers
on
the
digital
press,
the
fuser
oil
(if
used)
can
affect
how
well
the
cover
binds
to
the
book
block.
Test
several
different
stock
combinations,
with
the
oil
that
you
currently
use
and
contact
the
press
manufacturer
if
they
can
recommend
a
course
of
action
if
the
book
fails
to
assemble. Second,
the
grain
direction
of
the
book
block
MUST
be
parallel
to
spine
of
the
book
regardless
of
the
size.
This
will
ensure
the
integrity
of
the
spine
as
the
user
fully
opens
the
book
or
over-extends
it
by
folding
the
front
cover
to
the
back;
sometimes
called
the
'Sub-way
Test.' It
is
also
imperative
that
the
cover’s
grain
direction
match
that
of
the
book
block
too. Douglas
Bober,
Digital
Printing
Coordinator
at
Printing
Industries
of
America,
offered this tip.
Member
News
Check
Your
Listing! The
2009
edition
of
the
Membership Directory
is almost here! Review
the electronic version
on pgama.com to
make sure your company
listing is correct before
it goes to print.
Welcome
new
member
commonvision in
Catonsville,
MD. The
UMBC
(University
of Maryland,
Baltimore
County) Print
& Copy
Center
offers photocopying,
laser printing,
wide format
printing,
lamination,
mounting,
and a variety
of finishing
services
as well
as great
promotional
services
such as
iNet and
LED displays. Check
out their
eye-catching
website
and virtual
tour at
www.
umbc.edu/thecommons/commonvision.
Frank
Gumpert
Printing of
Annapolis,
MD
has
accelerated
its
plating
capabilities
and
vastly
improved
its
operating
efficiency
and
plating
accuracy with
the
addition
of
a
highly
automated
Suprasetter
74
SCL
with
Printready
workflow
and
Meta
Dimension
RIP,
all
from
Heidelberg.
Many
thanks
to
the
members
who
helped
support
the
SkillsUSA
competition
last
weekend: Keith
Roberts,
Standard
Graphics (Contest
Chair);
Al
Maddox,
Time
Printers (Chair,
PGAMA
Workforce
Development
Committee);
Jamie
Stotz,
Cenveo (Judge,
Electronic
PrePress);
Ed
Miller,
K&W
finishing (Judge,
Binding & Finishing);
Dave
Johnson,
Heidelberg (Judge,
Offset
Press
Operations);
Jack
Biondo,
General
Envelope (Oral
Professional
Assessment);
Charlie
Benjamin,
MSDE (Judge,
Production
Planning);
and
Paul
Foster,
PGAMA (Technical
Knowledge
Test.) Thanks
also
to
those
members who served as
sponsors by donating
time and/or material:
Rusty
Coolidge,
ChromaGraphics;
Allen
Anderson,
A&S
Graphic Supplies;
Gary
Habicht, Printing Specialist,
and John
Rocker, Heidelberg.
Upcoming Events
| March 30-April 2 |
Special Event: ON DEMAND Conference &
Expo, Pennsylvania Convention Center
in Philadelphia, PA. Whether you come from the
commercial or in-plant side of the printing industry,
this conference can help you make connections with
peers, competitors, vendors, and business opportunities.
Register by February 23 and save $200! More info
and sign up at www.ondemandexpo.com. |
| April 1 |
SGIA/SGP Webinar: Verification
Visits-Are You Ready? 2:00-3:00pm.
Are you ready for a verification visit from the Sustainable
Green Printing Partnership? This session will provide
an overview of a verification visit, including pre
and post activities. Special rate for PGAMA members!
Register at www.sgia.org and
type in "PGAMA" in the keyword search. |
| April
7 |
Members
Only Seminar: How to
Survive the Economic
Downturn, 8:30-12:30pm
at PGAMA. Renowned consultant Tom
Crouser developed this
program especially for
small printing businesses
(those with less than
$1.5 million annual sales.) In
the half-day session
he explains why a tough
economy can be the best
time for growth, and
how expansion can be
achieved. All attendees
receive a copy of Tom's
book, "Prospering," and
a personal consultation
with him. Cost is $85
per person/$125 for husband-wife
owners. ***Money
Back Guarantee!*** If
you attend and do not
find value in the presentation,
ask for a refund. Limited
Seating-register early!
Sign up at www.pgama.com or
call the office, 410-319-0900. |
| April
21-23 |
Workshop:
Lean Tools for Optimizing
Print Production,
Printing Industries
of America in Pittsburgh,
PA. This unique Lean
Manufacturing workshop
focuses Lean Manufacturing
on the shop floor by
identifying and eliminating
all forms of waste and
non-value-added activities.
Lean goals include;
decreasing production
costs, reducing lead
time, improving financial
performance, and achieve
rapid response to customer
needs. Cost is $1195
for members. More info
and register at www.printing.org. |
| April
21 |
Webinar:
Protecting
Customers, Key
Employees & Confidential
Information, 2:00-3:00pm.
In
this economy, it is critical
for employers to protect
their customers, employees
and business secrets from
unfair competition. Learn
practical steps to protect
customer lists and business
information; essentials to
drafting employment agreements,
including key terms to include
and the appropriate scope
of restrictions; and more.
This FREE webinar is brought
to you by member firm Offit-Kurman.
More info and register by
contacting them directly,
443-738-1582. |
|
