August 11, 2005

 

GUILD AND MANAGEMENT

AGREE TO MORE TALKS TO SEE

IF SETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE

 

           Guild and management negotiators agreed Thursday to schedule a short period of off-the-record negotiations next month to try to bridge the gaps that exist between the parties’ respective positions on such matters as job security, cost of living allowances (COLA), the TV workweek, and other critical issues.

 

           Whether or not an acceptable agreement is reached, the Guild is committed to having a membership vote completed by the end of September.  Exact bargaining dates will be confirmed early next week.

 

           The mutual decision to schedule a new round of intensive talks came during discussions that were taking place in order to try to complete work on management’s “final” language for a contract document and the associated Summary Plan Descriptions.

 

           “We expect to meet with the company for two days in mid-September,” said New York Guild President Barry Lipton.  “At the end of those sessions, we’ll either have an acceptable settlement that the Guild will recommend be ratified, or we will put the company’s final offer up for a vote with the Guild bargaining committee’s recommendation that it be rejected,” he added.

 

           During the next few weeks, the parties will meet to continue to finalize all of the language that has been either agreed upon, or about which the parties have agreed to disagree.  Completion of that language review process will allow voting to be scheduled promptly regardless of the result of the off-the-record negotiations.

 

           “Our members’ support throughout this tedious ordeal has been strong and unwavering,” said Reuters Unit Chairperson Peter Szekely.  “In spite of management’s best efforts to try to stampede our members into accepting an inferior contract, we’ve remained united. I think management is getting the message.”

 

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8/11/05