IAPE@Work: October 2019 - IAPE Directors Meet to Discuss Budget, Bargaining
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IAPE directors at the NewsGuild of New York headquarters in Times square, sept. 28, 2019.
Your dues money keeps IAPE running and, importantly, has helped the bargaining committee take a strong stance in negotiations with the company this year. Over the last weekend of September, your board of directors approved a new budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair Joe Walker, a health care reporter in New York, and IAPE leadership have worked hard to cut costs where possible. IAPE will be moving operations to a new office in Princeton at the end of this year, expected to save several thousands of dollars a year. We will continue to look at our fixed expenses, including our overhead, so we can keep investing in our membership and our contract.
IAPE in the last fiscal year received approval for a grant from The NewsGuild for our bargaining campaign which has covered the cost of our new IAPE swag and included generous support to allow us to hire Mobilizing Director Stefanie Frey.
Bargaining was also at the top of the agenda for our directors, and we discussed strategy in light of the company’s disappointing offer for 2% raises last week.
We don’t think a status quo raise that our members have swallowed for eight years is acceptable this time around, and it’s clear from the responses we have gotten from members on sacrifices they have made because of low wage increases that 2% isn’t acceptable to you either.
The bargaining committee is using this week to formulate our response to the company’s latest proposal, which we will present to Dow Jones representatives when we are back at the table next week.
We need you to keep showing your support for the bargaining committee so we can secure the contract our members deserve. Stay tuned for events and in-person updates in your location.
A Reminder on NewsGuild Elections
IAPE’s parent union, The NewsGuild International, is holding a re-run for its election for president. Incumbent Bernie Lunzer will again face challenger Jon Schleuss of the Los Angeles Times.
IAPE members eligible to vote in the election will soon start receiving ballots to their home addresses and votes will be counted in New York December 9. Visit our election page for more information and background on the race and the candidates. Reach out to IAPE’s election committee if you have questions about you eligibility status, voting or the election.