12.5%? How Did They Do That?

/

IAPE and Dow Jones to kick off negotiations on June 13 – can we keep pace with the New York Guild?

On May 23, The NewsGuild of New York announced its Times Guild bargaining unit had reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the New York Times. After more than two years of negotiating with Times management, and almost three years without a negotiated pay raise, the Times Guild had reached a groundbreaking agreement for their members.

The five-year contract, effective now after being ratified by Times Guild members yesterday, includes:

  • A universal $65,000 salary floor;

  • Immediate raises of at least 10.6 percent for all members, with 12.5 percent raises for those earning less than $100,000 per year, 

  • A ratification bonus equal to 7% of earnings after March 31, 2021;

  • Raises of 3.25% in 2024 and 3% in 2025;

  • Three in-office days per week for the life of the contract, starting Sept. 5, 2023;

  • A ban on the use of nondisclosure agreements in cases of workplace abuse or harassment;

  • Expanded benefits, including $50,000 in fertility coverage and paid sabbaticals of four weeks for every 10 years worked at the company;

  • First-ever contract language explicitly outlining out intellectual property rights, including an agreement to pay half of any payments to the author or video creators of productions;

  • Protected life rights so workers who write autobiographical material for The Times have more control over whether their personal stories are turned into secondary works like movies.

And much, much more. Their achievements truly are remarkable. So, how did they do that?

It wasn’t easy.

At the outset of their contract campaign, the Guild had just a handful of active Times stewards. Members were barely one year into the new, work-from-home reality brought about by the Covid pandemic, and no one really knew how contract negotiations conducted remotely via Zoom would play out.

For those involved in 2022 negotiations between IAPE and Dow Jones, this sounds familiar.

At the Times, however, through a steady campaign of engagement, Guild members—journalists, sales reps, technology workers, security guards and staff at the company’s events venue, The Times Center—began a series of escalating activities. They started with simple requests for member participation: sign a petition, join a reply-all email chain, participate in a social media campaign, and so on.

By November of 2021, the Guild had built its steward ranks to more than 100 active participants on its “Contract Action Team.” Through consistent outreach to coworkers, Guild leaders and CAT members convinced coworkers to gather for a mass protest outside the Times building.

Throughout 2022, Times Guild members continued to apply pressure on the company, culminating in a 24-hour work  stoppage in December. Through the final days of negotiations, members continued to stage protests, including in their newsrooms and at a stockholders’ meeting.

It took a very long time and a lot of hard work, but Times Guild members’ efforts have paid off. Literally.

On June 13, IAPE representatives will meet with counterparts from Dow Jones management to open negotiations for a successor to the 2022-23 collective agreement. The IAPE side will come to the table armed with comprehensive contract proposals addressing member priorities. All proposals will be shared on the IAPE website as negotiations progress—it is no secret, though, that IAPE intends to propose a multi-year agreement. It is possible that Dow Jones will open negotiations with a proposal for another one-year deal.

We might all point to the new contract at the Times and think, “we should have that, too.” Perhaps we should, but we won’t achieve a deal like that without a fight. What we can all take away from the new contract negotiated by the NewsGuild of New York is this: more important than the words and documents traded at the bargaining table are the actions taken by members in the workplace.

To that, we say, “stay tuned.” Volunteer to join the IAPE Contract Action Team! When your area IAPE representatives call for support with a petition to management, please join in. When the bargaining committee invites members to attend negotiations, either in-person or remotely, don’t be shy. Join us for town hall updates. Volunteer to spread the word among your own departments, and send your own suggestions for member actions to IAPE.

Next Tuesday marks the beginning of what could be a very long round of contract negotiations. Your bargaining committee intends to negotiate for the contract you deserve. We can only achieve that with your support.

Contract Questions? Join us for IAPE 101
IAPE newcomers, when you were hired by Dow Jones, were you surprised to learn that you were a union-represented employee? Have you ever wondered about your rights as a union member? If you have a half-hour to spare today at 2:00 p.m. EDT, please join us for the next installment of IAPE 101 and see if we can answer your questions.

IAPE 101 is a Zoom presentation addressing the basics of IAPE membership: What is a union? How does IAPE function? How does IAPE fit into Dow Jones? What are the benefits of union membership? All these questions and more will be covered in this class, perfect for those brand new to IAPE, or even for veteran members interested in learning more about their union. Visit the IAPE Events Page and register today!

Even if you’re a long-time member, today’s class is also a perfect opportunity to get answers to your questions about our contract (sorry, no Trivia Contest hints!) and what we might expect to hear from the company during negotiations. All members are welcome!

Tomorrow: Labor, Faith, and LGBTQ+ Pride
Join CWA Human Rights for Labor, Faith, and LGBTQ+ Pride, an online panel in celebration of Pride Month 2023! We will discuss the intersections of the labor movement, LGBTQ+ movements, and faith communities. CWA is excited to facilitate a discussion with panelists from the CWA Pride Caucus, Pride at Work, and Vanderbilt Divinity School's Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. LGBTQ+ workers, as well as all union siblings and allies, are encouraged to attend. Register at the IAPE Events page.