Providence Newspaper Guild

Worcester Unit news

TUES. NOV 15 UNIT MEETING ON WAGE BARGAINING (get info)

•updated 10-14-11
Next wage bargaining session Dec. 15.

When we settled the contract back in 2010 we did so with a provision to reopen talks for wages only in 2011. The Guild and the Company met on Tuesday September 27th to begin negotiating this for the News Room and Outside Circulation. A follow-up meeting was held Oct. 13, and the next session is scheduled Oct. 27.

The bargaining committee consists of Rick Agajanian, Bob Datz, Lee Hammel and Jim Collins, along with local Guild administrator Betsy Regan. To date, representing the Company have been Vic DiNardo, Leah Lamson and Tony Simalardes.

The Guild proposed a 4.5% wage increase and a provision to increase the hourly rate for part time employees to conform to full time employees in the Newsroom. A part time employee now receives 80% of what a full time employee receives.

The Guild has argued that there have been no wages increases in four years and the Company pointed out that the Guild-represented employees received a bonus when the contract was settled in 2010. It was pointed out by the Guild that that was not an increase in wages. Lee Hammel made a passionate argument in favor of an increase in wages citing the dedicated, hardworking employees that put the paper out each day.

The Company’s response was that there were no planned general increases in wages for 2011. When pressed on whether the Company was unable to pay or was it just there WANT not to pay, the Company said it was a "WANT not to pay" situation for any increases in wages at this time; they intended to hold the line on all expense for 2011.

There has been no demonstration or statement of financial distress on the part of the company.

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