New year, higher pay

Nearly everyone covered by the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild contract can count on higher wages in the year ahead. Here are the wage and differential increases that take effect Dec. 30:

Across-the-board raise: All employees who were on the payroll Oct. 1 or earlier will receive a 1.5% raise, unless they receive a larger raise because of rising minimum pay rates.

Higher minimums: The minimum pay rates rise by 2.5% in most job classifications and a bit more for a few positions. At the first step of the journalist classification, the minimum rises from $800 to $820 a week; for senior journalists, our highest-paid group, the minimum is up from $1,187 to $1,217 a week. For part-time editorial assistants, the first-step minimum rises from $12.54 to $12.86 an hour.

Higher differentials: Almost all shift differentials are rising. Night differential is up from 75 to 80 cents an hour, weekend differential is up from 80 to 85 cents an hour, production differential is up from 65 to 70 cents an hour, holiday differential is up from $7 to $8 a shift and callback pay (for sudden schedule changes) is up from $9 to $10. Only substitution pay (for filling in for managers or others outside the bargaining unit) remains unchanged, at $20 a shift.

But remember, this is the last year of the contract that guarantees those wage increases. In spring, negotiations start on a new contract, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009. It's always a battle to build on what we have in tough economic times. Support your bargaining committee.

Have yourself a merry bigger paycheck

Holiday paychecks can be a little more festive if you file for all the extra pay that's coming to you. If you're working over the holidays, here's what you're entitled to under the Guild contract:

If you work on the actual holiday (Dec. 25 or Jan. 1 in this case): You get overtime for your full shift (fill out a yellow overtime card), plus holiday differential ($7 for Christmas, rising to $8 on New Year's Day; file electronically). If a holiday falls on a weekday and you work a night shift, the night differential would be paid at the overtime rate ($1.13 an hour, or $9.04 for an 8-hour shift on Christmas, rising to $1.20 an hour, or $9.60 for an 8-hour shift on New Year's Day; file electronically). If you're eligible for production differential, that's paid at the overtime rate, too (98 cents an hour, or $7.84 for an 8-hour shift on Christmas, rising to $1.05 an hour, or $8.40 for an 8-hour shift on New Year's Day; file electronically).

If you work a night shift on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve: You get overtime for your full shift. Since they're both on weeknights this year, you get night differential at the overtime rate. And if you're eligible for production differential, that also would be paid at the overtime rate.

If you work five days in a holiday week (in this case, the week of Dec. 23 or the week of Dec. 30), but not the holiday itself: You get overtime for your full shift on the fifth day. Any night, weekend and/or production differentials for that shift also are paid at the overtime rate.

All of the above provisions apply to both full-timers and part-timers. The only difference is that full-timers get paid holidays off, so any full-timer who works on the holiday automatically gets 8 hours of straight-time pay on their paycheck in addition to the extra money described above.

Questions? See your Guild steward or steward leader. And happy holidays from Local 51.

Newson's back on board

Metro reporter Kawanza Newson has returned to the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild's Executive Board.

In December, the board named Newson as an at-large member to replace day copy editor Karen Samelson, who moved up to secretary in November. Both appointments last only until the Jan. 8 membership meeting, when members will vote on filling the seats for the rest of the term, which ends Sept. 30.

Samelson replaced metro reporter Sarah Carr, who was elected secretary in September but then left the Journal Sentinel. Newson was our longest-serving secretary, holding the office for three full terms and part of an unexpired term before deciding not to seek re-election in the fall. She also has been our social chair and a steward.

Samelson moves up; Deptolla returns to Guild leadership

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild's Executive Board named day copy editor Karen Samelson as secretary in November. She will serve until the next membership meeting, when members will vote on filling the term of metro reporter Sarah Carr, who was elected at the September annual meeting but who then left the Journal Sentinel for a job at the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Samelson had started her first term as an at-large board member on Oct. 1. She also is chair of the local's Human Rights Committee. The Executive Board is seeking candidates to fill Samelson's board member position. Anyone interested should contact our president, Amy Rinard.

In December, the board appointed Carol Deptolla as a steward leader, in charge of contract enforcement, membership and mobilizing for the copy desk, night graphics/design staff, national desk, opinions staff and metro desk editorial assistants. She will fill the term of Jerry Ziegler, the only Guild leader to take the Journal Sentinel buyout. Both Deptolla and Ziegler are assistant copy desk chiefs on the night shift.

Deptolla previously served two terms as a steward leader, in addition to two terms as 2nd vice president, one term as a board member and a stint as newsletter editor. She was most recently a night shift steward.

The board also reappointed metro reporter Susanne Rust to a third term as Health and Safety Committee chair.