Hour Unit Ratifies

4-Year Pact

October 26, 2005

Guild members at The Hour, in Norwalk, Connecticut, voted unanimously to accept a new four-year contract between The Newspaper Guild of New York and Hour management, at a membership meeting held Friday, October 21.

The new agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2005, and is in effect through December 31, 2008.

The pact provides raises of: 3.5%, retroactive to January 1, 2005; 3%, on January 1, 2006; 3%, on January 1, 2007; and 3%, on January 1, 2008. The pay hikes will be fully added to the starting minimums in each year of the contract, in every pay category.

Other gains include better bereavement language and increases in mileage expenses, which are also retroactive to January 1, 2005, improved union jurisdiction provisions, and clearer merit-increase language. Management will continue to pay 92.5% of the health care premium for 2005. In the second, third, and fourth plan years (i.e., next June 1 through May 31), the company may raise the employees weekly contributions by a maximum of 10% in 2006, 15% in 2007, and 15% in 2008, above the prior year’s rate. Any such hikes will be based upon the actual percentage increase of the applicable premium charged to the company.

First-ever improvements in the contract include a 401(k) plan, with a company match, and a flexible health-care spending plan.

Guild Local Representative Steve Zavatski, who was a photographer at the paper until joining the Local staff in 2000, led the union’s negotiations. He was joined by Erik Trautmann, Unit Chairperson; Sam DiMeo, Secretary; and Jennifer Connic, Treasurer.

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10/26/05