Sun and Press Operators Sign Contract

The Sun and Press Operators Sign New Four-Year Contract

The Baltimore Sun and the union representing its press operators (Baltimore Newspaper Graphic Communications Union Local #31) have signed a new four-year contract that began on May 1, 2002, and includes breakthrough provisions few major U.S. dailies have achieved. Until now, most major dailies around the country have had minimum staffing requirements in place.

According to Howard G. Weinstein, vice president of Human Resources and Organizational Development, the new contract eliminates all minimum press staffing requirements, and allows The Sun greater flexibility to begin pursuing commercial printing work.

"The overwhelming majority of the nation’s major daily newspapers still have staffing requirements in place that have long since been rendered obsolete by changing technology," said Mireille Grangenois, a spokesperson for The Sun. "By eliminating these outdated work rules, we are able to change our cost structure and bring in new projects that will keep the presses running and generating revenue for more than just the daily paper’s production time. This deal is good for all parties." Due to forecasted retirements, The Sun expects to achieve a reduction of the equivalent of approximately 14 full-time workers, all through natural attrition.

The elimination of minimum staffing requirements will allow the company to save approximately one million dollars annually. Since May 1, pressroom managers have the ability to determine the size of their crews, as well as flexibility in assigning crews to individual presses. Previously pressroom workers were assigned to a specific press. In exchange for concessions on staffing rules, The Baltimore Sun will make a one time compensatory payment totaling $1.5 million to union members. The money will be distributed pursuant to a separate agreement with the union.

With these changes in place, The Sun will begin bringing in new commercial printing work starting October 1, 2002. "By giving us much-needed flexibility, this contract changes our pressroom cost structure, eliminates unnecessary downtime, and allows us to compete successfully for large-scale printing jobs," Grangenois said. "Together, we plan to aggressively seek new commercial work that can keep us busy and profitable."

In addition to the staffing changes, the new contract also calls for calculating overtime on a weekly, rather than daily basis; elimination of workers’ compensation subsidies, and elimination of apprentice work restrictions. Combined, these additional provisions will generate an annual savings of nearly $200,000.