January 30, 2007
Bargaining Update 01.30.07
We've spent another day at the bargaining table— and we are seeing some additional signs of movement by the company's negotiators, which is good. But they still are far from agreeing to the kind of contract we need.
The company's team made new proposals on wages, for example. Their original proposal was 2% a year. Their new proposal? Still 2% for the first year and the third year. But now they are prepared to go to 2.5% in the middle year of a three-year deal.
On health premiums, the movement is similar. They have finally provided us with a schedule of the actual premiums they want to make you pay. They are no longer talking about a four-fold increase in our premiums in 2008. Now they want to triple them, or in some cases more than double them—depending on how much you make and what plan you use.
On outsourcing, a subject they formerly wouldn-t discuss, they are offering to consult with the union before laying people off, and to give outsourced employees improved severance packages. But they refuse to put any restrictions on their ability to outsource at will.
It's still a far cry from where we need to be, but we think that because we're all willing to stand up for ourselves, Dow Jones is slowly moving away from its most draconian demands.
In the days to come, we need to redouble our efforts. We need to demonstrate to Dow Jones that we won't let up until we get a quality contract. As we've said from the very beginning, the contract we win depends more on what we do away from the bargaining than what we say at the bargaining table.
Steve Yount
President
Jim Browning,
Bargaining Committee Chair
IAPE CWA 1096