Cablevision To Cut Newsday's Pay, Vacations

By KEITH J. KELLY
The New York Post

Newsday's 1,100 unionized workers are fuming at a proposal by owner Cablevision to slash their pay by an average of 10 percent, lop off a week's vacation and impose a longer work week under a new three-year contract.

"It was like a cold slap to the face," said one Newsday journalist shortly after hearing about the new proposal. "There has been almost immediate outrage."

The cuts are part of an effort by Cablevision to wring $8 million in savings out of the Long Island daily, according to one person. The cable operator bought Newsday from Tribune Co. in 2008.

Rank and file workers are expected to vote on the new contracts on Sunday. Current contracts expire between late February and late June, depending on the department. The contract for the 250 people in editorial expires on March 31.

Under Cablevision's proposal, most workers would see their salaries cut 10 percent, though the newspaper's drivers are being asked to take a 15 percent pay cut and to eliminate 15 positions from the 160-person transportation unit.

In addition, all employees' workweek would be extended five hours to 40, and long-term employees who have topped out at five weeks' vacation would lose a week.

"Newsday is not immune to the economic challenges facing the newspaper industry and we have been working closely with our union partners to find solutions to issues impacting our business in order to maintain Newsday as a strong and viable company for the long term," said Newsday spokeswoman Deidra Parrish Williams. "We are pleased that we were able to reach a tentative agreement with the union leadership and hope that it will be ratified."

Michael O'Connor, president of Local 406 of the Graphic Communications International Union, said Cablevision's offer is aimed at saving Newsday around $8 million a year, and that the newspaper lost at least $7 million in 2009.

"I think this is the best we are going to extract from Newsday at this time," said O'Connor. "I know a lot of people are upset, but everyone has to look at their options."

O'Connor said Cablevision originally pushed for a 15 percent pay cut across the board and for more leeway on who it could ax.

He added the offer currently on the table outlines for the first time specific language on severance, proposing that two weeks of pay for each year of work up to 52 weeks.