August 15, 2008
4-YEAR CONTRACT REACHED
FOR HUDSON NEWS MEMBERS
The Guild and Hudson News management have tentatively agreed on a four-year contract that would give members several new benefits, including longevity pay and company contributions to the retirement plan, in addition to pay increases.
The tentative agreement, which was signed this week, is subject to the approval of Hudson News Guild members. A ratification vote is scheduled for August 26. Employees who have passed their trial periods by that date would receive a $100 “special payment.”
The new contract, which covers retail and warehouse employees at the company’s Manhattan locations, would take effect the day it is ratified, but pay raises would be retroactive to April 3.
Pay would rise by $1.05 an hour for some employees during the life of the contract and $.85 for others.
In addition to wage increases, the new contract has several new bargained provisions, like night shift differentials for employees working overnights, warehouse differentials, safety shoe allowance for warehouse workers and company contributions and matching money to the 401(k) retirement plan. The new contract will also introduce longevity pay increases to employees who reach five, 10 or 15 years of service with Hudson News.
The new agreement also allows employees to work their 37.5 hours in five days, instead of the six-day weeks that many have been working.
GEORGE BATES, CU ACTIVIST, DIES AT 68
George Bates, a Guild activist who recently retired from Consumers Unions (CU) after a 38-year career at the publisher of “Consumer Reports,” passed away Wednesday night after a long illness. He was 68.
Bates, a member of the Local’s Executive Committee from 2005 until his retirement at the beginning of this year, was treasurer of the CU unit, a member of its Unit Council since 1986 and had represented his co-workers on several negotiating committees. He was a senior products specialist at the company.
“George was the ultimate professional in his field of product research and believed 100 percent in The Newspaper Guild,” said CU Unit Chair Bill South. “He certainly will be missed.”
There will be a memorial service for Bates Saturday at Amawalk Friends Meeting, 2467 Quaker Church Road, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598. His family has asked that anyone interested in remembering George with a gift should make a donation to Amawalk Foundation Meeting at the above address.
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08/15/08