-- An update on negotiations --

Dear Readers:
On Monday, Nov. 29, at the federal mediators' direction, The Vindicator and Newspaper Guild Local 11 met for a 10-hour bargaining session. The parties made progress in resolving most small issues, but remained far apart on the major issues, including wages, health-insurance contributions and sick pay.
As a result, the federal mediators adjourned the session and asked that the parties be available at the mediators' call.
Despite operating in the red for years, The Vindicator's latest proposal provided for wage increases and bonuses. The proposal included:
UA first wage increase of 1 percent on signing.
UIn addition to the wage increase, a lump sum bonus of $400/$200 (depending on wage classifications) after the first six months.
UA second wage increase of 1 percent at the start of the second year.
UAn additional $100,000 bonus pool to be distributed among the members in exchange for certain cost-saving items.
UA third wage increase of 1 percent at start of third year.
UA fourth wage increase of 1 percent in the sixth month of the third year.
URaising the dental contribution to $15 per week per employee.
UStatus quo on health insurance but move to a percentage contribution from the current flat-dollar amount.
After striking for two weeks, the Guild continued to make economic demands that would dramatically increase costs and that fail to realistically respond to economic conditions -- both ours and the Valley's.
The Guild's last proposal included:
UWage increases of 2 percent to 8 percent per year (depending on wage classification) for each year of a three-year contract.
UA bonus payment of $200/$400 (depending on wage classification) after the first six months.
UHealth insurance with no employee contributions (now a flat-dollar contribution of $9.50 for singles and $22.50 for family per week) for two years then a return to the flat-dollar contributions.
USix months of sick pay at 100 percent of regular pay for all employees, with elimination of the two-tier sick-pay plan for new hires, which has been in the contract for four years.
UA bonus pool of $30,000 with no cost-saving changes.
UA special weekly increase for three specific Guild members, raising their pay 13 percent to 20 percent per year.
The Guild's competing strike newspaper continues to be an unusual venture. In what must be a first in labor history, the Guild's "strike newspaper" is:
UProduced with a nonunion competitor, The Business Journal.
UPrinted by a nonunion printer, Lyle Printing & amp; Publishing Co.
UNow distributed, in part, by a non-union distribution company, Mahoning Valley Newspapers Inc.
Obviously, the Guild's union dedication stops at The Vindicator's gate.
In stark contrast to the Guild's paper, The Vindicator is still being printed today by union printers and union pressmen. We are committed to continuing to publish The Vindicator so that our striking employees can return to a strong, viable union paper.
We want this strike to end, and with the assistance of the federal mediators, we will continue to work for a fair settlement.
In the meantime, our dedicated union and non-union employees will continue to serve our readers, advertisers and community by publishing and distributing The Vindicator, the biggest and the best newspaper in the Valley.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support.
Betty Jagnow, publisher
Mark Brown, general manager