Thursday, October 9, 2008

10/9 bargaining update

Today's session saw negotiations travel in new directions, as the team proposed a temporary, 18-month hiatus on any new outsourcing language, with the option for both parties to re-examine the issue later.

MediaNews negotiator Jim Janiga said the proposal was "not something we anticipated," but did not rule out the possibility of examining the issue further.

The proposal comes in response to the company's repeated claims that no immediate plans exist for additional outsourcing. The Guild team feels that this proposal gives members the immediate security they need, but allows the company long term flexibility over staffing. This need for latitude has been a constant obstacle in negotiations, so hopefully this joint compromise will provide an avenue for both parties to accomplish their goals.

In terms of wages, the company rejected our proposed first year increase of 3.5%.

The full bargaining update is also available in the member's only section of our LANG9400.com forums. The member's only section is limited to (you guessed it) Guild members, so we can discuss details that aren't available on the blog.

If you have questions or comments on the new proposal, log in and join the discussion.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great job guys!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, thanks guys!

Anonymous said...

Keep on fighting!

Anonymous said...

Have you guys started deleting the comments with profanity? I haven't seen any in a long time.

Nice work, hopefully those people are smart enough to figure it out and start conducting themselves like adults. But I doubt it.

Anonymous said...

anon 3:20pm: When you bought your car or house or whatever, did you "sign" before you knew what it was gonna cost you?

And who the hell ARE you anyway, to tell Long Beach California workers to sign their contract??? What's it to YOU?

Anonymous said...

the outsourcing issue is a crock of bull.

Anonymous said...

What's a CROCK! is 9 editors and 10 newsroom reporters.

Anonymous said...

then keep slashing, this time with the editors!

Anonymous said...

...or executives

Anonymous said...

Hire more ad sales guys, pour more $ into struggling " niche " publications and less into PT content.
And lets not forget to hang onto those septuagenarian's.

Anonymous said...

No don't slash the editors, its not their fault they don't stand up and say Enough is enough.
Keep your mouth shut or blow smoke out of it and you will be rewarded with employment.

At the exclusive MediaNews ranch in Denver, Colorado :
" oh yes thats a great Idea Idea Deano, we can cut more content out of the paper. "

At the PT:
" I know this is tough everyone but Dean is really great guy! "

Keep swinging.