Contract talks resumed
Dear Guild member,
Contract talks resumed this afternoon between the Newspaper Guild and PN Purchaser Co, LLC, the prospective owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com.
On a positive note, the employer has expressed a willingness to allow the Guild’s jurisdiction to extend to editorial and advertising employees at Philly.com. The specifics have yet to be worked out, but Guild negotiators were encouraged that the company has recognized the importance of integrating its online and print enterprises to maximize efficiency and ensure continued success of the website and the newspapers.
As has been expected, the employer has insisted on concessions. The goal of Guild negotiators is to ensure that any sacrifices are kept to a minimum and cause our members the least possible amount of hardship.
Discussions have included the possibility of wage cuts and/or unpaid furloughs. Both sides have stressed a desire to avoid layoffs in a Guild membership that has suffered substantial staff reductions in recent years.
We broke without setting another date for bargaining, though we expect to convene soon.
In solidarity,
Dan Gross, President,
Bill Ross, Executive Director, and the
Executive Board of the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia/CWA Local 38010
