Bargaining Update: Waiting for a Reply

When contract negotiations between IAPE and Dow Jones resumed yesterday, the union Bargaining Committee expected to receive proposal number 17 from management, perhaps a comprehensive response to IAPE proposals from Mar. 28. Instead, the company opted to share a presentation of different numbers—errors it claimed to have found in IAPE comparisons of Dow Jones proposals and pay at The New York Times.

That’s right. Instead of responding to union proposals to achieve a fair contract for 1,400 IAPE-represented employees across the United States and Canada, Dow Jones thought a better use of their time would be to explain how IAPE calculations and Dow Jones calculations differ by as little as 0.01%.

In fairness, Dow Jones also believes IAPE comparisons for employees earning more than $160,000 are inaccurate by approximately 2.1%. So, while we would prefer to spend time digging into a meaningful contract proposal from management, we’ll review our math.

Management also insisted, again, that when medical premiums at Dow Jones and The New York Times are factored into the equation, IAPE-represented employees could have “the best deals in town” if members accepted the company’s current proposal. IAPE representatives suggested that Dow Jones management should also review the average salary at The Times.

If the company thought members would be persuaded by its data, they were mistaken. Following yesterday’s contract meeting, hundreds of IAPE members participated in a “reply all” action sending messages to Dow Jones executives.

Members emailed through late afternoon telling CEO Almar Latour and fellow top managers that “IAPE members need a fair contract!” Many highlighted the frustration felt at the company’s failure to recognize the value of a workforce responsible for generating record profits quarter after quarter. Some worked lyrics from Taylor Swift, Adele and even BTS into their notes.

Are IAPE and Dow Jones never, ever, ever getting back together? Well, we’ll be back at the bargaining table next week, and you can join open bargaining as an observer. Rumor has it Dow Jones might come to the table with a new proposal. Management knows what it needs to do to make it right.