Bargaining Update: Dow Jones & Company . . . Limited

IAPE membership is “a powder keg,” likely to be disappointed (again) by company offer

During a contract bargaining meeting Thursday, Dow Jones negotiators described a new company offer as a “limited” proposal, and it was, in so many ways.

Dow Jones proposal number 18 contained three small moves: a proposal to adjust minimum pay scales by 3.75%—an increase from the company’s previous offer of 3.5%—upon ratification of the contract, an offer to limit health insurance premium increases for members in Canada to the same percentage as the increase in company costs, and a $500 increase in the company’s proposal for a lump sum payable upon ratification of a new deal.

“Any open union proposals not specifically addressed here are rejected,” reads the top line in the new Dow Jones document.

IAPE’s bargaining team noted that the per-employee proposal of $2,000—which management has characterized as a replacement for retroactive pay—is the equivalent of 2% of pay at the median salary for union-represented staff.

Management would not elaborate on why it refuses to present a proposal containing retroactive pay increases—not to mention percentage raises reflecting the cost of living, company performance and market rates. Instead, management representatives opted to criticize the union for a “slow crawl” in union compensation proposals.

IAPE opened negotiations on June 13, 2023—50 meetings ago—with a proposal to immediately increase wages by 15%. The union’s offer has been whittled down to proposals for raises of 8.5% retroactive to July 1, 2023, 5.5% on July 1, 2024, 5.5% on July 1, 2025, and 4.0% on July 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, Dow Jones didn’t even bother to make a wage proposal until nearly two months of negotiations had elapsed. The company’s opening offer of 3.0% in 2023, with raises for 2024 and 2025 to be determined has evolved to its current proposal of a combined Year 1 and Year 2 raise of 7.0%—so, 3.5% per year—payable upon ratification, followed by raises of 3.0% on July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026.

IAPE had no formal response to the company’s “limited” proposal, though union negotiators did warn management that employees are likely to be extremely disappointed by yesterday’s offer. Following a management complaint that, “You’re going to call your members to action,” the IAPE bargaining team responded with words of caution.

“You might be surprised to find out that we’re holding our members back. We are sitting on a powder keg. We have a very engaged and increasingly angry membership.”

Negotiations are scheduled to resume next Thursday, May 2.  See your email to sign up for Open Bargaining.

“Ring, Ring Collective Action Calling”
Starting next week, IAPE’s Contract Action Team (CAT) will be calling members 1:1 to take the pulse on upcoming actions. We encourage you to take those calls and provide your input.

If you’ve changed your number or aren’t sure what number is on file, please email union@iape1096.org with your current personal number.