The Guild has scheduled a ratification vote on the proposed contract with the News for Thursday, April 20. Members may vote between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the News fifth-floor cafeteria. Guild representatives will also be on hand from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the zone offices in Depew, Buffalo, Hamburg and Tonawanda.
The tentative agreement, unanimously endorsed by the Guild’s bargaining team, includes an effective 2.5 percent raise for full- and part-time bargaining unit employees for the first time in seven years. It also includes exit packages for members of the Classified Department that doubles what the News originally offered. Under the deal, members will pay 9 percent of the Guild base 20/20 health insurance plan in 2018.
More details on the agreement are in a flier distributed in print and via email last week to members and posted on Guild bulletin boards.
Given the declining economic state of The News, Guild leadership strongly believes that this contract represents the best deal possible under difficult circumstances and urges members to vote for it. Please make an effort to cast your vote on Thursday, no matter your position, and thank you for all you do on behalf of the Guild.
Buffalo Newspaper Guild CWA Local 31026 