Bargaining bulletin #2

Press Democrat management and the Guild met Wednesday for contract negotiations.

Management offered a contract with no guaranteed pay increases, instead asking the union to accept what non-union employees would get, and to tie any increases to performance reviews. It also sought to raise the employee share of health costs, take away a week of sick leave accrual and eliminate the no-layoff guarantee.

“We’ve weathered a storm but we’re not out of it,” said Troy Niday, chief operations officer for Sonoma Media Investments.

Management took its proposal to implement a new paid-time-off scheme off the table.

The union’s proposals include wage increases, higher employer contributions to the 401K, continuation of no-layoff provisions and enhanced work-life benefits.

The two sides reached a number of tentative agreements on existing contract provisions, including paid holidays, grievance procedures and rules governing hiring and transfers.

The next bargaining session is tentatively set for Dec. 10.

Representing the company were Niday, Sam Caddle, George Millener and Emily DeBacker.

The Guild was represented by Carl Hall, Derek Moore, Lori Carter and Chris Chung.