The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News and The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia reached a three-year deal on all issues Tuesday night. The union announced the deal in a statement, while the company reported the agreement on its Web site.
The union planned to discuss details at a membership meeting Wednesday night. Under union rules, a ratification vote would not come before the weekend.
"It's a package requiring a lot of sacrifice from our members," said Diane Mastrull, the unit chairwoman who led the Guild's negotiating team. "But it is a package that is far less devastating than what the company originally proposed."
The three-year pact, which extends until Aug. 31, 2009, includes no pay increase for the 900-member Guild in the first year. Employees will get a $1,500 bonus, paid in two parts, in the second year, and receive a $25 per week raise in the final year of the contract.
"There's no sugar coating this contract. It is a disappointing, giveback deal," Mastrull said.
Philadelphia Media Holdings bought the dailies from McClatchy Co. in June in a deal valued at $562 million.
From 1975 to 1990, the Inquirer won 17 Pulitzers, the Daily News two.
Click on the headline to read the full story by AP
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment