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First Contract Set at Hudson News
Newsstand and bookstore employees across Manhattan ratified a first contract April 2, winning significant pay raises, a signing bonus and reduced cost for health insurance, said Linda Foley, president of The Newspaper Guild-CWA.
Hudson News employees voted 130-3 to approve the four-year pact, which covers about 325 workers.
“This is truly a landmark pact,” said Barry Lipton, president of TNG-CWA Local 31003. “It could not have been achieved without the hard work and unfailing support of the leadership in the shop and of the rank-and-file employees.”
Lipton and Local 31003 Secretary-Treasurer Bill O’Meara led the union’s negotiating committee, getting a contract within six months after the workers — mostly immigrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh — voted for Guild representation. In doing so, they defeated an intense anti-union campaign.
The agreement also resolves a federal lawsuit brought by the union on behalf of employees forced to work overtime but not paid the statutory rate. Thirteen workers will share a $40,000 settlement, Lipton said.
Raises will total at least 12.5 percent over four years, with lump-sum payments of $100 or $200 to current staffers, depending on length of service. Employees who haven’t recently had a raise will get up to two years’ credit for experience.
Workers will be paid premium pay for working holidays and double time for holiday overtime. Also, their share of payments for health insurance will be reduced by as much as 40 percent.
Other benefits include improved vacation and sick leave, a combination of paid and unpaid maternity leave of up to four months, and up to 30 days’ unpaid leave for other purposes.
The pact includes a grievance procedure, a ban on layoffs with 15 years’ service, seniority and bumping rights and a one-year rehire list for workers laid off.
Hudson News employees voted 130-3 to approve the four-year pact, which covers about 325 workers.
“This is truly a landmark pact,” said Barry Lipton, president of TNG-CWA Local 31003. “It could not have been achieved without the hard work and unfailing support of the leadership in the shop and of the rank-and-file employees.”
Lipton and Local 31003 Secretary-Treasurer Bill O’Meara led the union’s negotiating committee, getting a contract within six months after the workers — mostly immigrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh — voted for Guild representation. In doing so, they defeated an intense anti-union campaign.
The agreement also resolves a federal lawsuit brought by the union on behalf of employees forced to work overtime but not paid the statutory rate. Thirteen workers will share a $40,000 settlement, Lipton said.
Raises will total at least 12.5 percent over four years, with lump-sum payments of $100 or $200 to current staffers, depending on length of service. Employees who haven’t recently had a raise will get up to two years’ credit for experience.
Workers will be paid premium pay for working holidays and double time for holiday overtime. Also, their share of payments for health insurance will be reduced by as much as 40 percent.
Other benefits include improved vacation and sick leave, a combination of paid and unpaid maternity leave of up to four months, and up to 30 days’ unpaid leave for other purposes.
The pact includes a grievance procedure, a ban on layoffs with 15 years’ service, seniority and bumping rights and a one-year rehire list for workers laid off.