The Newspaper Guild Represented Employees at WPIX Unanimously Ratify New Contract

May 8, 2013
 

The Guild is pleased to announce that it has signed a new three year contract agreement with WPIX management, having been ratified unanimously by the membership on Monday May 6.

Two ratification meetings were held on Monday, May 6th in the 10th floor conference room at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The unanimous vote was taken by a show of hands as per the Guild's long-standing practice.
Major highlights of the agreement include:

$200 signing bonus for all full-time employees and most part-time employees.

Two percent (2%) wage increase for all full-time and part-time employees effective upon the first pay period following ratification, a two percent (2%) wage increase effective January 1, 2014, and a one and a half percent (1.5%) wage increase effective January 1, 2015. 

Guild Unit Chair, Joe Punday and Local Guild Rep, Bob Daraio with the new Guild/WPIX Contract

 Dinner money increases to $15

Minimum wage increase upon being promoted increases to twenty dollars per week ($20) from the current $10.

Severance will be computed at the terminated employee’s highest weekly base salary rather than current base salary in return for signing a separation agreement

Night travel allowance increases from $18 to $20.

Requirement to work a minimum of four hours between 12:01am and 6:59am eliminated. Any hours worked during those hours will earn the 15% Night Differential pay.

Higher Classification: $5.00 increase for each per shift upgrade, except graphic artists, whose current upgrade pay will continue.

Mileage increases to $.42/mile with further increases “as per Company policy”

Military leave includes Reserve and National Guard; Company shall pay the difference between an employee’s military pay and their regular base pay while they are on active service.

Current short term disability (STD) plan will be replaced with Company’s STD policy including conversion of sick pay to STD program. 

Any unused sick leave days remaining at the end of a calendar year may not be carried over to the next year, however, the Company shall convert any unused sick leave days remaining to a disability bank of up to 20 full disability pay days, which will substitute for partial short-term disability pay or long term disability pay should an employee be out on such leave.

Current health plan will be replaced with Company’s medical plan, which will potentially reduce premiums as much as between 1% and 2% of pay, depending on the type of coverage chosen. All supplemental insurance plans will now be available to Guild-represented WPIX employees. 

The company agrees to contribute an amount equal to one percent (1%) of a part time employee’s monthly wages to the Entertainment Industry Flex Plan (“EIFP”) on behalf of all part time employees that worked at least 500 hours in the preceding year.

Minimum wages will now be based on maximum top of weekly scale with exception for News Assistants, whose wages will remain based on applicable minimums.