Philly Guild to Members: More Pain on the Way

By: Jennifer Saba The newspaper guild representing members of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News is recommending a delay in a previously negotiated pay raise, and is encouraging voluntary retirement.

"Guild members will be asked to vote on the company's request to give back our $25 raise negotiated to start in September," Bill Ross, administrative officer with the guild, wrote in a memo. "Although it pains the Guild's Executive Board to take this position, we recommend a vote of YES to delaying the raise until Aug. 1, 2009."

Additionally, the guild said the company plans to reduce staff at some point in the fall a move that will impact copy desks, the photo department, editorial assistant ranks, and management.

The guild has been in talks with the management at the company over the past several months and is in the process of bargaining. Ross wrote that the guild believes the company's problems are "real" and that "a weak economy and an industry that is struggling to find its way in the Internet Age has exacerbated the problems."

Ross warns, "more pain is on the way."

The memo follows:

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On Tuesday, August 26, 2008, Guild members will be asked to vote on the company's request to give back our $25 raise negotiated to start in September. Although it pains the Guild's Executive Board to take this position, we recommend a vote of YES to delaying the raise until August 1, 2009. Over the past few weeks, Guild officers have been in serious discussions with the company on a variety of issues pertaining to our present contract and the contract we expect to begin bargaining over the next few months. We believe the company's problems are real. Granted, the company has brought some of this woe upon itself, but a weak economy and an industry struggling to find its way in the Internet Age have exacerbated the problems.

The company needs our help.

And, yes, we know that many of you don't want to help.

That's perfectly understandable -- the company's treatment of us over the past two years has hurt our members and weakened our core products. Unfortunately, more pain is on the way.

On August 20, we received notice from the company that a further reduction in force should be expected in the fall. Targeted areas include the copy desks, the photo departments, editorial assistant ranks and management. To minimize the number of layoffs, the company will be considering and accepting voluntary retirements. Anyone who is interested in information about this should contact Bill Ross in the Guild office, 215-928-0118. DO NOT contact Human Resources.

While we hope to minimize the pain of this work force reduction through voluntary layoffs, if we vote to keep the $25 raise we will face more layoffs. The company is going to get its money one way or another.

Please see attached meeting notice & absentee ballot instructions.


Bill Ross, Administrative Officer
Guild Executive Committee