Bargaining halted; Journal Sentinel rethinks budget

Journal Sentinel Inc. has temporarily suspended contract talks with the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild.

Management negotiators said the economic downturn had prompted the company to ask all departments to review their 2009 budgets, and that bargaining would not resume until that review is completed. They indicated this is a companywide bargaining freeze that also affects the electricians’ union, which was preparing to open negotiations.

Since July, the Guild and the company have been discussing non-economic matters and have reached tentative agreements on many of those contract provisions. Neither side has presented a complete wage proposal yet. The company also has not presented its vacation proposal.

The Guild asked to continue bargaining on non-economic matters, but the company declined. As a result, bargaining sessions set for Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 were canceled. At our last bargaining session, Nov. 11, we discussed provisions dealing with drug and alcohol testing, columnists and union jurisdiction, but did not reach any agreements.

Bargaining Committee members will discuss the situation with Guild members at our local’s regular quarterly membership meeting, at noon Tuesday Dec. 2, on the second floor of Turner Hall. Lunch will be provided.