GETTING STARTED
Bargaining bulletin #1

Representatives for the Press Democrat Guild met with management in Rohnert Park today as talks got underway for the next labor agreement.

Union negotiators presented a list of contract demands that included significant pay increases, improvements to retirement benefits, job security and work-life balance concerns.

Management outlined the general state of business operations, including what it said are pressures on advertising revenues and costs related to investments in new technologies.

Management signaled interest in switching to a paid-time-off scheme that would take the place of current vacation and sick-time programs. Senior employees would be allowed to retain their banked time-off under the company’s general outline.

No agreements were reached Wednesday. Talks are scheduled to resume next week.

Representing the company were Troy Niday, chief operations officer for Sonoma Media Investments; senior editor George Millener; Human Resources Director Emily DeBacker and Sam Caddle (ret.)

The Guild was represented by executive officer Carl Hall, unit chair Derek Moore, vice-chair Lori Carter and Chris Chung.