October 7, 2003

Negotiations on Contract Extension Begin 

Progress Made on Ending Merit Pool 

The Guild and Time Inc. management held their first negotiating session on a Contract extension, on October 2 in the Time & Life Building. 

Much headway was made on the Guild proposal to end the merit pool, which New York Guild President Barry Lipton described as the last such pool in any contract in the New York Guild. The Guild hopes to make more progress on this issue in the next negotiating session, which both sides tentatively plan to hold at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. 

The company's creation of the merit pool was the sole cause of the only Guild strike at Time Inc., in 1976, and the Guild has proposed ending it in every negotiation since. Management had fiercely opposed the change to a more equitable pay system that provided annual guaranteed raises for all bargaining unit members. 

Both the Guild and management are hopeful that the two sides can come to an agreement before the end of the current Contract, which expires on February 1, 2004. In order to streamline the process, only wage issues are being discussed, with the rest of the Contract remaining in full-force. 

The Guild would like to thank all the members who came to observe the talks, and we regret that at least some members got caught in a confusing situation during a brief period in which the talks had ended but the Guild's e-mail announcing this hadn't been sent. Compounding the confusion was a possible midday change of rooms that turned out not to be necessary because the talks had concluded. 

The Guild hopes that the next session can be held in one room no matter how long the negotiation lasts. We encourage all Guild members to come to observe the talks, even if you can come for only a short time. Your support is vital to the Guild. 

The Guild will send out an electronic advisory as soon as the location has been confirmed. 

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10/07/03