Contract 2000
The Journal presented a "Last, Best and Final" contract offer Monday (Jan. 24), which was more notable for what it does not have, rather than what it does:
* It does not have parking.
* It does not have a cap on medical costs.
* It does not guarantee what medical plans will be offered.
* It does not have the 401k improvements enjoyed by other Journal employees.
* It does not have the pension benefits enjoyed by other Journal employees.
* It does not prevent the company from using temporary employees in pre-publishing.
* It does not give advertising employees a voice in their incentive plans.
What it does have is, in many cases, even worse.
* It requires the Guild to drop 19 grievances and 2 unfair labor practice charges.
* It increases life insurance to two-time base pay, but eliminates coverage for part-timers who work less than 22.5 hours a week.
* It raises the pay of pre-publishing operators, but reduces the wage scale for newly hired specialists.
* It allows the company to change schedules in pre-publishing without recourse to the grievance procedure.
The positive changes are:
* A 3-percent wage increase in each year of the contract.
* An increase in long-term disability insurance from 50% to 60% replacement income.
* An increase in travel accident insurance.
* The use of three days of sick time for "family," rather than just "personal" illness.
The negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Guild Executive Board and the membership reject the company proposal.
In a telephone poll, Executive Board members and Unit Council members were unanimous in their opposition.
The Executive Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday (Jan. 25) to schedule a membership vote.
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