NEW YORK (AP) -- The Associated Press and the News Media Guild reached tentative agreement Monday on a new three-year labor contract covering about 1,700 editorial employees of the news service, ending nearly nine months of negotiations.þþUnion negotiators said they would recommend approval of the contract, which provides for wage and benefit improvements, including the addition of domestic partner coverage in the health insurance plan.þþThe agreement calls for wage increases that would raise salaries for top-scale newspeople over the life of the contract by $91.50 weekly to $1,070: $26.50 in the first year, $30 in the second year and $35 in the final year. The second- and third-year increases would be effective on Dec. 1, 2003, and Dec. 1, 2004.þþUnder the contract, the AP also would increase its contributions to employee 401(k) retirement savings plans, offer enhanced vision care and orthodontic benefits, and limit the amount by which employee health insurance contributions could rise during each of the first two years.þþThe contract, which replaces one that expired last Nov. 30, is subject to ratification by the union members.þþ
Source: NY Times
