By: E&P Staff The union representing roughly 900 San Francisco Chronicle employees voted to approve a new five-year contract Wednesday night. Although workers are forced to make several concessions, negotiators maintain that it was the best possible deal.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Thursday that members of the California Media Workers Guild voted 574-119 in favor of the contract, which takes effect immediately. Five members abstained.
The paper has seven unions, three of which are still negotiating.
Because of financial problems (an auditor with the Communications Workers of America reported that the paper lost at least $62 million last year), the paper's management said that cuts were necessary.
Under the new contact, employees will lose a week of vacation, half of their 10 annual sick days, and they will not be allowed to strike. Forty percent of the guild's members will see pay cuts, though journalists who have had their pay frozen since January will receive an 11% salary increase over the next five years.
The company will pay more toward health insurance and the employee pension plan.
Writing on the guild's Web site earlier this week, guild president Michael Cabanatuan called it "a terrible contract" but said "it's the best we are going to do."
As part of the deal, management hopes to entice 120 people into buyout offers. If not, layoffs are expected.
The contact has been in the works since the previous one expired on June 30. It was negotiated in 1994 and extended in 1998.
Those opposed to the new deal argued that it would reverse the work of the union and take money away from some employees who need it most. Supporters acknowledged that it wasn't perfect but also noted that it saved jobs, prevented a strike and decreased the chances that the paper would be sold.
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