BANG Guild members voted today to ratify an agreement with management that extends our contract through September 30, 2015.

The extension comes amid continued uncertainty about the expected sale of Digital First Media. It is our hope that the extended contract will continue to be in effect when the DFM sale is completed.

Our agreement provides for two paid personal holidays to be used no later than December 31, 2015. Employees are to take a third (but no more than one week) of their banked vacation by the end of September. In addition, employees must schedule their vacation for the 2015 fiscal year by August 15, 2015, subject to changes that can be worked out with their supervisors, consistent with current practice.

All current vacation scheduling practices will continue.

Your bargaining committee recommended a “yes” vote on this agreement, and all members who voted took that recommendation to heart. Your committee thanks you for your support and thoughtfulness.

If anyone has any questions, please reach out to George Kelly, Danny Willis or Dan Rosenstrauch. Or, call administrative officer Kat Anderson at (415) 298-1335.

Here is the language of the draft agreement:

The current collective bargaining agreement shall be extended to September 30, 2015, as follows:

• By June 6, 2015, each employee shall be required to schedule one third of his or her total accrued vacation as of April 30, 2015 (but not more than one week), to be taken by September 30, 2015. Scheduling conflicts, if any, shall be worked out among employees, consistent with current practice. This week or one third of accrued vacation shall not be used in lieu of vacation time already scheduled. Any employee who has not scheduled such time by June 6, 2015, will have the vacation scheduled by his or her manager.
• Under the terms of this extension, each employee shall receive two paid personal days, on a one-time basis, to be taken before December 31, 2015. The personal days shall be granted on a “use-it-or-lose-it” basis, meaning that they are not accrued and will not be cashed out on termination or if unused by December 31.
• Effective July 1, 2015, employees must schedule all of their annual accrued vacation for the next fiscal year by August 15, 2015. Scheduling conflicts, if any, shall be worked out among employees, consistent with current practice. An employee may change the dates of his or her scheduled vacation in consultation with his or her manager, consistent with current practice. Any employee who has not scheduled his or her vacation by August 15, 2015, will have the vacation scheduled by his or her manager.