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
No comments:
Post a Comment