Sun-Times Staffers Vote to Strike

By Margaret Lyons in News on Sep 14, 2004 5:52PM

Sun-Times reporters, photographers, copy editors and other newsroom employees represented by the Chicago Newspaper Guild voted Monday night to authorize a strike that could begin when their contract expires on September 30. The union represents about 180 staffers at the Sun-Times, but only 91 participated in the vote (89-2) because it was called on short notice.

This isn't the first time the union has made such a threat, but despite several contract renegotiations, they've never actually gone on strike. This time around, negotiations are a little more dramatic. Hollinger International, the Sun-Times parent company, is in the middle of a scandal: top executives have been accused of skimming more than 95 percent, in the neighborhood of $400 million, of the company's profits from 1997-2003. Gah. Hollinger is also trying to sell the Sun-Times, so they want to keep it as cheap as possible to make it desirable to buyers.

The journos whose contract is in question have obviously been missing out on that 95 percent—their soon-to-expire three-year contract called for no raise its first year, a 1 percent raise the following year, and a 1.25 percent raise this past year. Now employees are looking to collect. They're asking for a four-year contract with a 9 percent wage increase the first year and a 6 percent increase each of the next three years. Newspaper management has offered a one-year contract with a 2 percent raise and an additional $5 a week toward health benefits, a 4.5 percent increase in the company's contribution.

Here's a cost-cutting strategy, Sun-Times: fire Paige Wiser. That's like, what, 20 bucks a week right there. We're sure you can find someone cheaper to cover tailgating, bathrooms, and a fetish for Scar in The Lion King.