Advertiser, unions reach agreement on 5-year contract

Advertiser Staff

A new five-year contract between the Hawai'i Newspaper Trades Council and The Honolulu Advertiser was approved today.

The trades council comprises six locals representing about 750 employees.

Workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union initially rejected the proposed agreement, but voted today to accept the new contract.

Dave Mori, an ILWU business agent, said today that members of that union, concerned about job security, had initially misinterpreted a provision of the proposed contract.

Employees represented by the Hawai'i Newspaper Guild, Honolulu Typographical Union, Graphic Communications International Union Locals 413n and 501m, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Aug. 9 to ratify the agreement.

"We are pleased with the new contract and feel that it is a solid package for our employees," said Mike Fisch, president and publisher of The Advertiser.

Representing the Guild and the Trades Council, Wayne Cahill, Guild administrative officer, said he was also pleased the contract had been ratified and the process of implementing it could begin.

"It provides stability and protects benefits up to 2007," he said. "And that is good for our members and the company."

The unions have been working under a contract extension since June 10, 2002.

The new contract agreement is effective June 10, 2002. It expires on June 9, 2007. The package includes a bonus payment upon ratification, with a wage increases totaling 5.5 percent over the five years.

Additions to current benefits include a non-contributory 401(k) plan, an option to participate in either a new pension equity plan or the current defined benefit pension plan, and severance pay for part-timers. A no-layoff clause remains in effect until Jan. 1, 2005.

"Across the country this summer, newspaper unions and management have been struggling to reach agreements in the midst of a dramatically changing newspaper industry and a volatile economy," said Dennis Francis, general manager of The Advertiser. "All the parties worked very hard to reach the best possible agreement for our employees, one that is fair and very competitive."