Bargaining Update: No New Proposals

Take Our Survey: What Will You Do?

IAPE and Dow Jones negotiators met yesterday to discuss job security concepts and health care cost data. No new proposals were exchanged. The union again expressed concern about a Dow Jones proposal to expand seniority “windows.”

Current contract seniority protections explain that “all Employees having less than two (2) years of service shall be deemed to have the same seniority status” and that “Employee(s) having two years or more of service shall be deemed to have the same seniority status as any other Employee(s) whose hire date is within one (1) year.”

Expanding those groupings to include all employees with three (3) years of service less, and for longer-term employees, to have the same seniority as others hired within eighteen (18) months could impact job security for as many as 250 IAPE-represented employees.

IAPE representatives also questioned data the company shared to demonstrate how its health care costs have increased over the past three years. The union requested information to show costs per employee, after learning data shared by management—total company spending for union and non-union employees—also included staff from new Dow Jones groups like OPIS.

IAPE informed Dow Jones it expects to discuss health care proposals when negotiations resume on Tuesday.

IAPE Members: What Will You Do?
During contract negotiations with Dow Jones management, visible member support is more important than any words or documents traded at the bargaining table. As contract talks continue, IAPE members will be asked to show their union support by participating in various group actions. Today, we'd like you to tell us: what are you willing to do to show management that you deserve a better contract?

See your email for a short survey you can take to let us know!

Responses will help the IAPE Contract Action Team (CAT) prepare upcoming member actions. If you would like to join the CAT, please contact union@iape1096.org.

Hickory Dickory DC
It sounds like IAPE members working in the Washington bureau could use a CAT of their own.

Local members of the IAPE Board of Directors report the presence of mice in their office, with some members describing the workplace pests as “an infestation the company hasn’t adequately addressed for two months.”

“They are rampant,” said another member.

After raising the issue with Dow Jones management, company officials responded to IAPE:

“In a commercial building like this, whether it be in DC or any of the cities we reside in, pest control is typically in place. The landlord actively manages this, and has responded in a timely fashion upon the concern reported. It's safe to say that there are no obvious signs of an ‘infestation’, and remediation steps have and will continue to be taken if the concern continues.  In many cases like this one, the best deterrent is keeping our office clean and not leaving food out.”