Your bargaining committee is pleased to announce that we’ve reached a tentative agreement with Reuters Canada for a two-year contract. Your bargaining committee believes this is a good deal, especially in this the current climate of uncertainty, and is recommending acceptance of the agreement.

We will issue a detailed list of all proposed changes prior to a ratification vote, which we expect will be held before the end of May. In the interim, here are the main points.

Salary & Benefits
Effective April 1, 2009, 2.5% increase
Effective April 1, 2010, 1.9% increase

We have bargained without concessions. There will be no change to the benefit coverage provided to Guild employees at Reuters Canada.

Scheduling in Online:
Considerable time was spent discussing the difficulties surrounding scheduling of the 24/7 Online operation and the impact this has on people’s lives. A variety of schedules were produced in an effort to find ways to relieve the stresses placed on employees working evenings, overnights and weekends. Among other changes – maternity/parental leaves will now be backfilled immediately, without the 8 week gap. Two part time employees will be engaged instead of one full time employee to fill the maternity leave. These part timers will be hired specifically to work weekend shifts to reduce the number of weekends current full time staff must work.

We are drafting a Memorandum of Agreement which you will receive before the ratification vote. Packages (including English/French Memorandum of Agreement, a ballot and a return envelope) will be sent to all members outside Toronto by courier as soon as possible.

A general membership meeting will be held before the end of the month.

Ka Yan Ng
Rick Franolla
John McCrank
Kathy Viner, CMG Staff Rep