Sick?

November 22, 2006

Contrary to what the Company suggested in their patronizing bulletin Tuesday, members are not confused about PN’s sick time proposal. It sucks and we know it. The Company wants to dock you for the first four days of an illness. If you’re still sick after that, you’ll get paid—but only at 65 percent of your regular salary. 

They presented a revised version of their proposal today, but it wasn’t much better. Current employees go without pay the first four days of an illness, and then they get 10 days of paid sick leave at 100 percent. Those 10 days, however, must last you for the rest of your careers.

For new hires it’s even worse. They don’t get the 10 days. That foreshadows the company’s horrific view of the future of journalism in Philadelphia.

PN’s newsroom employee of the future gets paid less than a main unit reporter or photographer, doesn’t catch a cold or germ he or she doesn’t bring to the office to share with everyone else, and when he or she gets some experience, bolts.

The Guild doesn’t share that bleak view of our newspapers’ future. We remind the Company that these papers have long been considered leaders in the field.

As it has been doing, the bargaining committee will spend the weekend trying to fashion something out of the Company’s proposals. 

Stay tuned for a longer discussion of newsroom issues in an upcoming bulletin.

Direct questions to Voices@Local-10.com