TAXI STORY - PART II

GUILD'S WITHDRAWAL OF REPORTERS' CARS CONTINUES TO VEX PAPER

Newshounds dodge company potholes enroute to primary; Business reporter told to take a bus to where no buses go; Editor says reporter "less valuable" if he won't use car

The newspaper is continuing to steer a wobbly course in trying to contend with a Guild's job action, in which some reporters are refusing to use their cars for company business.

The paper put roadblocks in the way of one more reporter's attempt to carry out an assignment. One editor, after turning down a reporter for an out-of-city taxi cab ride, declared that he now considers him "less valuable" because he won't make his car available for news assignments.

That comment is out of line, since the reporter is one of about 30 who never have been required to use their cars for business, and whose transportation requirements thus are the responsibility of the newspaper.

In addition, Tim Schick, the Guild's administrator, said the comment runs afoul of federal labor law.

"It is illegal for the company to discriminate against employees because of their participation in job actions," Schick said.

Earlier this summer, the Guild told the company that not all Providence-based reporters would continue using their cars to get to their assignments. The action was taken as part of the union's work-to-rule program authorized by the membership and begun in June as a response to the company's illegal bargaining tactics.

Under the Guild contract, use of cars by many Providence-based reporters is discretionary. They can use them if they want to, and then are reimbursed on a per-mile basis.

But it's a costly proposition for these reporters: they don't get the monthly car allowance provided state staff bureau reporters, photographers and advertising sales representatives who are required to use their cars. And they have to pay for their own parking around The Journal building, unlike the others, who get free parking.

Some reporters never have used their cars, including Carol McCabe, the legendary former feature writer, book editor and Washington correspondent who didn't own a car. Former investigative reporter Bob Kramer pursued underworld figures in rented cars and rarely, if ever used his own

The alternative to using one's own car has been to beg rides with photographers, or to use taxi cabs, public transportation and rental cars.
But last week, after taxi bills began to mount up - some out-of-town fares topped $50 - the company changed the rules, reportedly telling the cab firm that it would not honor vouchers for trips outside Providence.

When reporter Karen Lee Ziner attempted to order a cab to interview a political candidate in Johnston, the cab company told her about the change. The candidate came to Providence.

Now, Russ Garland, a business reporter, has had to navigate the company's penny-pinching policy.

Working on a story for his regular feature on small businesses, he told financial editor John Kostrzewa that he needed to go to Richmond, and asked whether he should take a cab or some other form of transportation.

Some days later, Kostrzewa said Garland's options were to use his car or take a bus. The editor said cab trips outside city limits were not authorized, except in special circumstances where trips close to Providence might be permitted.

Then Kostrzewa made the inappropriate comment that, with Garland declining to use his car for assignments, the reporter would now be "less valuable" to him.

Garland stuck to his guns. He wouldn't use his car. And he couldn't take a bus to Richmond: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's buses don't go there.

Not wanting to victimize the subject of the story, Garland arranged to meet her at a conference room that her company retains in Providence. But he said that was a compromise, since he feels that business profiles are best done within a company's environment.

Meanwhile, the newspaper continued its erratic course Sept. 12, the day of the primary election.

Ariel Sabar, who was covering the Second Congressional District race, asked his editor ahead of time how he would be able to get to polling places outside Providence; it was decided that Sabar would use "Car One," the scanner/cell phone-equipped Jeep usually piloted by Providence police reporters.

That worked out well for last Tuesday, but probably won't be a generally practical solution, since, as everyone who has had the police beat knows, there is no Car Two.

At the same time, reporters assigned to campaign headquarters outside Providence asked how they would get to their assignments. Initially, editors advised them to hitch rides with photographers.

But photo editors said that wouldn't work, especially for return trips, as photographers had to come back to the paper as soon as they made their pictures, while reporters needed to stay longer for candidates' speeches.

Word then was passed that reporters - this time only - could ride to the headquarters with photographers and take cabs back to the paper.