Guild Members Save Pensions at Catholic News Service

TNG-CWA Local 32035 members at the Catholic News Service won raises totaling 7.4 percent over two years but, more importantly, preserved their defined benefit pension plan in a tentative agreement reached with the Catholic News Service.

The 19 Guild journalists had worked for 311 days under an expired contract and the union had just two rounds of talks with CNS since the end of April.

"The deal fell into place when CNS management withdrew its proposal that would have allowed it to unilaterally terminate or reduce the defined benefit pension," said TNG-CWA President Linda Foley, who joined CWA Executive Vice President Jeff Rechenbach, Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling, and CWA and Guild members and staff for a rally in front of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Washington, D.C., offices. TNG-CWA members picketed for four consecutive Wednesdays, raising visibility of the long-simmering dispute, and had planned an even bigger demonstration outside the bishops' meeting in Baltimore next week.

"We're very happy," with the contract, said Cassandra Shieh, Local 32035 CNS Unit Chair, who bargained the pact along with local staff rep Paul Reilly and Unit Vice Chair Jerry Filteau. "It was crucial to get support from CWA members and Guild members. It was tremendous," she said. "They helped us come together and become a more solid group."

The CNS journalists will upon ratification receive a 3.8 percent raise, retroactive to Jan. 1, followed by a 3.6 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2007.