Union members approve Dow Jones contract extension

IAPE members at Dow Jones & Co. locations across North America have voted to accept an extension of their previous contract through June 30, 2016, by a 567-75 margin.

With the final count, and more than 87% of ballots cast in favor of the extension, IAPE members approve a deal that will preserve all current terms and conditions of employment for another year and increase wages by no less than 2 percent for union-represented employees.

Introductory pay scales will increase by 1 percent, and the minimum-dollar pay increase for full-time employees will be set at $20 per week.

The ratification vote was open to all Dow Jones employees covered by this contract who were members in good standing as of July 13, 2015. The election was administered by TrueBallot Inc.

52.21 percent of 1,243 eligible IAPE members cast a vote right up until today’s noon EDT deadline, with the last online ballot submitted at 11:56 a.m. The voting count represents an increase over 2014 totals, when IAPE members were asked to approve a similar contract extension.

In July of last year, 1,301 members were eligible to vote, but only 465 ballots were cast. 448 members voted in favor of the 2014 extension, and 17 opposed the deal.

Pay raises for eligible IAPE-represented employees will be paid retroactive to July 1, 2015. The union and the company hope that all new rates of pay will be in place by the end of September.

Once done, IAPE officials will begin double-checking pay increases for all IAPE-represented employees to make sure all 2015 raises have been properly calculated.

IAPE and Dow Jones representatives will return to the bargaining table early next year to negotiate a replacement for this extension.