Romenesko Misc.
The president of the union representing Newsday journalists blasts the paper for giving “generous wage increases and bonuses” to managers. Mike LaSpina writes the labor relations vice president:
I was happy to hear that so soon after experiencing a financial rough patch, Newsday is apparently back on solid fiscal footing. It’s so surprising that barely 10 months after Local 406 members took 10 and 5 percent pay cuts and accepted a three-year wage freeze — saving the company $10 million over the life of our contract — that managers have been granted generous wage increases and bonuses. In addition, many non-union employees were also granted pay increases.
LaSpina tells the veep he wants “a conversation about how Newsday plans to restore our members’ compensation in the same way it has rewarded exempt and non-union employees.”
A letter from the president of the union that represents Newsday editorial employees to the paper’s labor relations veep
Tim Martin
Vice President
Human Resources and Labor Relations
Newsday
235 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747
Dear Tim:
I was happy to hear that so soon after experiencing a financial rough patch, Newsday is apparently back on solid fiscal footing. It’s so surprising that barely 10 months after Local 406 members took 10 and 5 percent pay cuts and accepted a three-year wage freeze — saving the company $10 million over the life of our contract — that managers have been granted generous wage increases and bonuses. In addition, many non-union employees were also granted pay increases. You recall in December 2009 that then-Publisher Terry Jimenez walked us through a grim presentation showing the striking downward trend in advertising nationally, the general decline in circulation among newspapers and the precipitous drop in circulation and advertising for Newsday in particular. Our members were all worried about the company’s future, so the Union leadership did its part and advised its members to take the pay cuts as an investment in the long-term financial health of the company where we make our livelihoods. As you know, we voted for the contract despite the pay cuts and though our bills and expenses remained the same. We felt the company’s pain and took a heavy blow for the team even though our wages had never before been lowered.
But it’s clear that the belt-tightening has paid off. Revenues must be stabilizing or increasing because of the generous bonuses and pay increases mentioned above. And though we did not receive the memorandum from you announcing the good news, we are sure that our sacrifices will be answered in the form of some financial relief from the agreed-upon cuts in salary that Newsday said were critical less than a year ago. Please feel free to let me know at your earliest convenience when we may have a conversation about how Newsday plans to restore our members’ compensation in the same way it has rewarded exempt and non-union employees. We feel that our contributions deserve some reciprocation – and I am sure you’ll agree.
Sincerely,
Mike LaSpina
……………………..
> January 2010: Newsday union asks members to vote on “horrible” contract
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