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Tentative Agreement in Seattle Newspaper Strike
Washington, D.C. - Bargainers for the Newspaper Guild-CWA reached a tentative agreement with the Seattle Times today that could end a 45-day strike by some 800 newspaper workers.
The tentative settlement was reached after a marathon 13-hour session held in the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). The TNG-CWA negotiators are recommending the agreement for approval by the full bargaining committee in Seattle. A full membership ratification vote is expected to be held over the weekend. The agreement covers contracts for the Seattle Times circulation, advertising, newsroom and composing room employees.
Earlier, 130 striking newsroom workers at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ratified a separate contract on Dec. 27 and 28 and were scheduled to begin returning to work this week.
The union bargainers - CWA President Morton Bahr; TNG-CWA President Linda Foley; chief TNG-CWA negotiator Bruce Meachum; and Ralph Erickson and Emmett Murray, members of TNG-CWA Local 37082 from the Seattle Times - met with Times Publisher Frank Blethen and President H. Mason Sizemore, to work out remaining contract issues.
Bahr expressed his thanks to Sen. Murray, who facilitated the Washington, D.C., session, and Richard Barnes, head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for their support and their efforts to bring about a fair settlement. "Their involvement was critical to our reaching this agreement," he said.
"Our members were determined to win a fair contract, and they have stood firm," said Foley. "We are grateful to the entire Seattle community which supported us from day one. The solidarity and assistance we received from the King County Labor Council and Washington State Labor Council made all the difference for our members," she added.
The strike by more than 900 workers at the Seattle Times and the Post-Intelligencer began on Nov. 21. The two papers are owned separately but publish under a joint operating agreement and negotiate in tandem with TNG-CWA. Union members immediately began publication of a print and on-line edition of their own newspaper, the Seattle Union Record, which was made available throughout the community.
The tentative settlement was reached after a marathon 13-hour session held in the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). The TNG-CWA negotiators are recommending the agreement for approval by the full bargaining committee in Seattle. A full membership ratification vote is expected to be held over the weekend. The agreement covers contracts for the Seattle Times circulation, advertising, newsroom and composing room employees.
Earlier, 130 striking newsroom workers at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ratified a separate contract on Dec. 27 and 28 and were scheduled to begin returning to work this week.
The union bargainers - CWA President Morton Bahr; TNG-CWA President Linda Foley; chief TNG-CWA negotiator Bruce Meachum; and Ralph Erickson and Emmett Murray, members of TNG-CWA Local 37082 from the Seattle Times - met with Times Publisher Frank Blethen and President H. Mason Sizemore, to work out remaining contract issues.
Bahr expressed his thanks to Sen. Murray, who facilitated the Washington, D.C., session, and Richard Barnes, head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for their support and their efforts to bring about a fair settlement. "Their involvement was critical to our reaching this agreement," he said.
"Our members were determined to win a fair contract, and they have stood firm," said Foley. "We are grateful to the entire Seattle community which supported us from day one. The solidarity and assistance we received from the King County Labor Council and Washington State Labor Council made all the difference for our members," she added.
The strike by more than 900 workers at the Seattle Times and the Post-Intelligencer began on Nov. 21. The two papers are owned separately but publish under a joint operating agreement and negotiate in tandem with TNG-CWA. Union members immediately began publication of a print and on-line edition of their own newspaper, the Seattle Union Record, which was made available throughout the community.