Long Beach : News Guild OKs Contract Providing 3%, 4% Pay Raises

Press-Telegram reporters and other members of the Newspaper Guild of Los Angeles, Local 69, have approved a new contract with the Long Beach newspaper, ending protracted negotiations that led employees to ask readers to cancel their subscriptions.

The guild ratified the new contract Tuesday by a 96-14 vote. Union members said nearly 3,400 cancellation pledges from subscribers will be turned over to the Communications Workers of America, Local 650, which represents about 35 typesetters who have been without a contract for more than two years.

Under the new guild contract, reporters will receive a 3% pay raise retroactive to March 1, 1989, another 3.6% increase retroactive to last March, and 4% increases each of the next two years. The weekly pay scale for a veteran reporter will increase from $709 to $756 immediately, and to $818 by 1992.