DFM management proposed to merge the separate San Jose and East Bay Guild bargaining units under one consolidated contract that would include all digital employees, who are not currently represented by the Guild.
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Mercury News unit kicks off talks with one demand: more pay
Your San Jose unit bargaining committee met today with Company management for the first in our latest round of contract talks. Our current contract expires Sept. 30, and these talks come very quickly after our last round of bargaining.
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Merc News members ratify extension as sale of paper looms
Members of the Mercury News Guild ratified a three-month contract extension Wednesday.
Under the terms of the extension, employees will receive a half day of paid leave, in addition to the two days of paid leave negotiated under the terms of our current contract, which is scheduled to expire June 30.
Fiscal challenges led to diminished San Mateo Times
Location and timing is everything for local journalism as it is for real estate. The San Mateo Times adhered to that principle for decades. And it proved quite profitable.
Read MoreGuild news staffs launch effort to resuscitate journalism
The Guild has launched an effort to find or build community-based enterprises to free news organizations from the grip of the Digital First Media hedge fund.
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Wanted: Local buyers for hedge fund-owned papers
An ad posted by the San Francisco-based Guild local reads: “Employees of your community’s newspaper want a new attitude respecting quality jobs & quality journalism on the part of ownership.”
Read MoreMercury News unit ratifies contract extension
San Jose Mercury News guild members today ratified an extension of our contract through October 1, 2014. The agreement passed by a 2 to 1 margin.
Read MoreGuild members rack up the awards
Long-time Guild members receive awards from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, The Newspaper Guild and the Society for Professional Journalists. We congratulate our talented members.
Read MoreSan Jose Mercury News management wants status quo
The Guild has proposed a 3 percent wage increase in each of the next three years, a fifth week of vacation after 15 years of service, and resumption of an employee 401k match, as well as other improvements that would begin to restore wages and benefits we have lost in recent contracts. The company continues to reject any economic increases, based on lagging ad revenue.
Read MoreBay Area News Group management has nothing new to say
Your Guild bargaining unit offered a new approach Thursday on some of the core issues in our negotiations for a new labor agreement with the Bay Area News Group.
Read MoreBay Area News tells Merc committee there is no money
Bay Area News Group (Digital First) rejected the committee’s proposal that seeks to restore wages and benefits lost in recent contracts, such as a 3 percent wage increase in each of the next three years, a fifth week of vacation after 15 years of service, and resumption of an employee 401k match.
Read MoreContract talks begin at San Jose Mercury News
Guild proposal reflected concerns from a member survey, recent small-group meetings and an internal analysis of payroll data. Since 2008 members have suffered a 14.25 percent loss in inflation-adjusted dollars, increased to 16.1 percent with inclusion of lost vacation.
Read MoreBay Area News Group East Bay Bulletin #8
On Thursday, the Guild presented a revised proposal that clarified priorities in the achievement of parity with the San Jose Mercury News contract.
Read MoreGuild presses BANG management for pay raises and sane commutes
East Bay Guild negotiators pressed the issue of work locations and proposed trying to find ways to reduce commute expenses during the latest round of contract talks Thursday.
Read MoreBay Area News Group – East Bay talks resume; fair pay sought
Bargaining resumed Thursday in the East Bay after an extended break from contract talks. The Guild committee pressed for a new labor agreement that puts pay and benefits on par with the Bay Area standard for professional journalists.
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