Newsday Reaches Union Settlement

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., Jan. 9  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newsday's six collective bargaining units have voted to accept agreements negotiated by representatives of Newsday and the Graphic Communications Conference/International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 406. The bargaining units include editorial, building services, platemaking, pressroom, pre-press and transportation and cover approximately two thirds of Newsday's employees. The agreements replace 10-year contracts due to expire in the next six months.

Following around-the-clock negotiations last week, the union's membership ratified the final agreements yesterday. The new agreements are retroactive to January 1, 2006 and will expire in 2010.

  Key elements of the new agreements include:

   -- 4-year contract terms
   -- no base-wage increase in January 2006
   -- 2% annual pay increases each year for 2007 - 2009, and .5% lump-sum
      payments in 2007 and 2008
   -- an increase in employee healthcare contributions beginning in 2007
   -- workforce reduction of approximately 65 employees in pressroom and
      transportation areas, and severance payments for affected employees
   -- replacement of the current pension plan with a defined contribution
      plan
   -- outsourcing of single copy delivery in Queens
   -- lump-sum payments for contract-related savings, including severance
      payments for affected employees



Newsday Publisher Tim Knight noted, "This marks a successful conclusion of the bargaining process that started this past August. We appreciate the union's commitment to constructive bargaining. All parties demonstrated that they want Newsday to be successful moving forward -- for readers, advertisers, the communities we serve and, of course, our employees."

Underscoring the significance of concluding the bargaining process, Knight added, "These agreements enable Newsday to turn an important corner.  The terms reflect the significant changes that have taken place in our industry such as efficiencies brought about by technology, better process management and rising health care costs. Having negotiations behind us means we can focus on rebuilding this great newspaper to serve its readers and advertisers with excellent journalism, innovative high quality products, and a commitment to the community." 

DATASOURCE: Newsday



CONTACT: Deidra Parrish Williams of Newsday, [phone],

 

Copyright