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EFE Makes Proposal in Talks
NEGOTIATING BULLETIN NO. 2
12 Feb 2010
MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2010 – The EFE News Service made its opening proposal in contract talks with the News Media Guild this week, saying it was willing to discuss some changes to the way wages are calculated, but the agency proposed continuing salaries at current levels.
The company said that EFE, the world’s largest Spanish-language news agency, is still dealing with the effects of the global market crisis from last year.
The union is seeking to improve wages and retirement benefits, and to equalize the amount employees pay for medical insurance, among other items. The union said that while it recognized the tough economic times, its members have already foregone wage increases going back to 2008 while costs continue to increase.
The Guild noted that U.S. EFE workers have a high level of productivity, particularly after successful video training by the CWA/Nett Academy last year. The union is seeking to build on the training program. EFE has yet to respond to the Guild’s proposal but said a response would be forthcoming.
EFE also said it needed to study some of the union’s proposals on wage calculations that would link an employee’s base wage to his or her professional experience. It said it agreed that if an employee secures a raise over contractual minimums, that raise should be maintained as an employee progresses through the salary schedule, a concept known as “maintenance of merit.” EFE also indicated agreement on a non-discrimination provision relating to the process of individual raises.
Talks are set to resume next week.
Representing the Guild were NMG President Tony Winton, EFE unit chair Jorge Bañales and committee member Cesar Muñoz.
Representing EFE were María Luisa Azpiazu, vice president, and attorney Rudy Gómez.