On Thursday, April 9, the newsroom and non-newsroom bargaining committees each met separately with management and received counter-proposals from the company.
In the first meeting, management met with the newsroom unit and dropped its proposal to withdraw from The Newspaper Guild International Pension fund. Management accepted a couple of small changes proposed by the Guild, including a longer posting/notification period for schedule changes, as well as changes to the drug and alcohol policy regarding marijuana. The company rejected the remainder of the Guild’s proposed changes, including any economic gains.
Management’s proposal is basically an extension of the current contract. The new contract would expire Feb. 27, 2016. After deliberation, the Guild committee tentatively agreed to the company’s offer.
Language of the newsroom tentative agreement will be finalized and a draft will be sent to the national union for approval. The tentative agreement will then be made available to newsroom members and a ratification vote will be scheduled.
The non-newsroom committee met next, expecting a similar proposal. Management did drop its demand to withdraw from the pension plan, but renewed a proposal to have the right to outsource finance and circulation home delivery positions with 60 days notice. Management agreed to the same changes to the drug and alcohol policy as in the newsroom contract and rejected the remainder of the Guild’s proposals.
The Guild did not accept the package proposal. The next bargaining date has not been scheduled.
Guild Non-Newsroom Bargaining Committee: Paulette Shrefler, Kathy Rudolph, Laurie Faliano, Sam DeLeo, Kristin Baldwin, Kelly Mortensen, Steve Wielgosz, Chris Wint, Cheryl Schmid and Theresa Burt.
Guild Newsroom Bargaining Committee: Kieran Nicholson, LeAnna Efird, Allen Daniel, Craig Walker, Joey Bunch, Kevin Hamm and Emilie Rusch.
Previous contract bargaining updates
