Contract 2000
The Journal increased its wage offer Friday (Jan. 21) but made its proposal conditional on the Guild dropping 19 pending grievances (all but two of the currently active cases) plus all unfair labor practice charges.
The company's proposal would increase wages by 3 percent each year, and increase life insurance benefits for employees who work 22.5 hours or more to two times annual base pay. Part-timers with less than 22.5 hours would lose life insurance coverage. The company also offered to pay "a reasonable one-time lump sum payment" to fully settle the recent parking arbitration award. They did not indicate how much money they were prepared to pay, or who would get the payments.
Missing from the company's proposal was any adjustment of the pre-publishing department wage scales and work assignment issues. Also missing were pension and 401k improvements, contractual parking provisions, and an employee voice in setting advertising incentives.
Also missing from Friday's negotiations were four members of the company's six-member negotiating committee.
The company is holding to a proposal that would allow it to substitute "substantially equivalent" medical insurance plans at any time. However, the company has refused to explain what "substantially equivalent" means.
The Guild questioned the company about a letter it sent to employees, which stated that the company's contract proposal contained "a superior all around benefit package."
"We don't think it is superior to what we had before or what other Journal employees currently have," said Guild spokesman Tim Schick. "That is false and misleading. It is superior to what?"
The next negotiating session is scheduled for Jan. 24.
The Guild's proposal is available on-line at the PNG web site: Guild proposals.
TNG/CWA Local 31041
270 Westmister St., Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-421-9466 | Fax: 401-421-9495
png@riguild.org