Newspaper, Union Reach Contract

A contentious labor dispute between New Hampshire’s largest newspaper and its largest union has ended.

The announced on Feb. 2 that it had “overwhelmingly but grudgingly” agreed to terms of a new agreement offered by the Union Leader Corp. after some of the more drastic proposal were taken off the table.

The two-year agreement, which was approved two days ago, reduced pay grades by 1 percent for full-time workers, increased the work week to 40 hours during the next two years, and limits sick time to 30 hours a week.  

“This most definitely is not a good deal, but is the best we could do in these difficult economic times, especially in our turbulent industry,” said Norm Welsh, president of the Guild, in a statement.

According to Welsh, four long-time employees of the company also took separations in order to keep the pay cut on the remaining members of the guild lower than originally proposed. The employees who are leaving the company – Sunday News Sports Editor Dave Johnson, copy editor John Tucker, copy editor Jim Hodson, and Janitorial Foreman Everard “Moose” Priest – together had 133 years of experience with the newspaper.

Welsh praised the employees for sacrificing for the good of others. He also commended other unions and activists that helped the guild during its five month contract dispute with the company, including local membership of the , , , and .

“Many of our members held signs, passed out leaflets, signed petitions and withheld names from their work,” Welsh said in a statement. “They were joined by committed members of other unions and organizations. Together, our efforts played a significant role in getting the company to move from its initial position.”

Welsh noted, disappointingly, that management did not look at other savings in other areas of the company that were raised by the union.

The guild represents 120 employees at the Union Leader and is the largest of the newspaper’s four unions.