Source: mediaunion.ca
Bargaining between Local 2000 and Black Press Lower Mainland was suspended Tuesday after company negotiators, for the second time, presented the union with a proposal for a five-year contract with no general wage increases.
The company has proposed a one-time lump sum payment of 1% effective April 1, 2013, but only to employees at the top of their pay scale, prorated on an employee’s fulltime equivalency. In addition the company has proposed a one-time lump sum payment of 1.5% effective April 1, 2014, but only to employees at the top of their pay scale, prorated on an employee’s fulltime equivalency.
Under this company proposal there would be no general increases to the wage grid in the five-year period between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2015.
The company is saying it needs this freeze in the wage grid in order to compete with wages paid at Glacier Media.
The company did agree to getting rid of the bottom rung of the bindery wage grid, which would have the effect of changing the starting rate from $10.58 per hour to $12.08 per hour. This would only affect new bindery employees and those currently paid $10.58 per hour.
The company also agreed to change the Shipper/Receiver rate to the same grid as General Clerk. This change would see the top rate for that job increasing from $17.98 per hour (after 2 years) to $19.74 per hour (after 4 years).
Under the company proposal there would also be a few minor concessions. The joint composing room board for Tri-City/Maple Ridge/Burnaby/New West would be split into three boards. As well the company is asking for a weakening of our “hot goods” clause in the contract.
Your bargaining committee believes the company’s general wage proposal to be unacceptable. It has decided to spend the next two weeks consulting with the membership.
Please email Vice President Gary Engler at gengler@mediaunion.ca with your comments or questions or talk to one of the bargaining committee members.
Members of your bargaining committee are:
Debbie Irvine — Abbotsford bindery
Jessica Unger — Campbell Heights bindery
Channy Dhillon — Abbotsford pressroom
Eileen Jarrett — Peace Arch News composing
Rich Weldon — Langley composing
Bonnie Pierotti — Abbotsford classified
Phil Melnychuk — Maple Ridge editorial