September 1, 2003

Dues hike approved  by membership

By a more than three-to-one margin members of the Chicago Newspaper Guild approved a one percent dues increase in balloting that concluded the last week of August.

Curtis Lawrence of the Chicago Sun-Times and Irv Leavitt of Pioneer Press counted the ballots Aug. 28 at the Guild's downtown office in the presence of Guild President Michael Ulreich, Treasurer Jim Ritter and Guild attorney Craig Rosenbaum. The final tally was 154 "yes'' and 46 "no,'' with 200 Guild members voting out of the 375 that were eligible to vote.

"I want to thank those members who expressed confidence in the Guild by approving the dues increase,'' Ulreich said. "On the other hand I understand and appreciate the reasons that some people voted against it. These are tough times but I want to assure our members that the money will be well spent in ensuring that our contracts are not eroded by publishers who are eager to use the current recession as an excuse to gut pensions and health insurance benefits while coming to the table without a viable pay increase.'' Ritter also expressed his appreciation for the wide support of Guild members for the dues increase.

Over the last four years, dues to staff cuts at Hollinger Corp. newspapers, the Guild has lost 44 dues-paying members.  At the same time, the Guild has been forced to spend more money on arbitrations and other legal obligations to combat Hollinger contract violations.  The Guild is currently preparing to undertake seven arbitrations to fight Hollinger grievances.

The former dues rate of 1.65 percent of gross pay, has been in effect since 1980. Under the proposal approved the last week, the rate will climb to 1.8 percent, or, for most members, an increase of about $1 a week.  Chicago Guild executive director Jerry Minkkinen said the dues increase would go into effect sometime in September.