February 11, 2003
Some
good news, for a change: Guild raises
Here are the details on what’s in it for you
The
Guild raises were due on February 1,
and the Guild was told by Human Resources that the raises will be included in
the February 13 paychecks.
The
Guild’s Contract with Time Inc. provides that raises of “not less than 4% of
the total base salaries of all eligible employees be distributed” among all
eligible employees effective February 1, 2003. “Eligible employees” are Guild-represented
employees who were hired on or before August 1, 2002.
This is an average of 4%.
Your individual raise may be more or less.
Although
the ultimate amount of your raise is discretionary, there are some minimum
guarantees:
*If
you were earning less than $61,500 (the
Guild calls this the “cutoff”) as of
January 31, 2002, you are guaranteed a raise of at least 2% (also
known as the “general increase”).
*If
you were earning more than $61,500 as of
January 31, 2003, and have worked continuously for Time Inc. since February
1, 2001, then the total amount of your raise over the term of the Contract
(February 1, 2001 to January 31, 2004) must be no less than $3,639.
In order to determine the minimum amount of your raise, you will need to
add the amount of your raises in 2001 and 2002 and subtract that amount from the
Contract minimum ($3,639). Note, too, that many people over the cutoff get their
raises on their anniversaries; some get them on a particular date set by their
magazine or division (e.g., Fortune
gives over-the-cutoff raises in March).
The Guild’s advice to those over the cutoff who haven't gotten a combined $3,639 raise during the first two years of the Contract is to ask your manager about it now. Since this is the last time in the Contract for a general increase, managers' minds are on raises now, so mention the contractual obligation and say that in your case it hasn't yet been met. Put the manager on notice that you know the contract and will insist on its being enforced.
Raising
the minimums
The
last piece of the wage puzzle concerns the Contract’s minimum salaries, those
given to employees in the various groups of the Contract (see pages 18-21 for
listings of the groups and job titles) during their first, second and, in most
cases, third years with Time Inc.
For
Groups 2-9, there is a starting minimum, an “After 1 Year” minimum, and an
“After 2 Years” minimum.
For
Groups 10-12, there is a starting minimum and an “After 1 Year” minimum.
Here
are the prescribed Contract minimum salaries as of February 1, 2003:
Group
number
Starting
minimum After
1 Year
After 2 Years
2
$393
$408
$425
3
$419
$435
$453
4
$438
$455
$473
5
$451
$468
$488
6
$470
$489
$507
7
$502
$521
$541
8
$553
$573
$596
9
$622
$647
$672
10
$722
$751
11
$799
$831
12
$862
$897
All of these rates, of course, are minimum salaries. The Guild hopes that few people are at these rates in their groups, but if you are below these numbers, Time Inc. must give you a raise immediately to at least match these figures. Contact the Guild for assistance in correcting your pay.
It’s
important to keep in mind that we’re now in the last year of any guarantees of
raises, or of anything else in the Contract. The Guild will be putting together
a negotiating team over the course of 2003. It’s time to start thinking about
what you want in a new Contract.
If
you have any questions about your raise (or lack of one), or if you need a copy
of the Contract, contact Unit Chairperson John Shostrom at 212-522-3965.
A
few members informed the Guild that when they accessed their 2002 electronic
pay stubs they were unable to view their earnings year to date (“YTD”).
The Guild inquired with Human Resources and was informed that the YTD
information is available when you click “View Printable Format” on the
website, even though it is not visible on the employee’s computer screen.
The Guild was also assured that the problem has been corrected for
2003. If you have any questions,
please call payroll.
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02/11/03