Update on Dow Jones-union talks

The New York Post’s Janet Whitman and Keith Kelly have an update on the contentious contract talks between Wall Street Journal/Barron’s parent Dow Jones and the labor union that represents its journalists in Friday’s paper.

Whitman and Kelly wrote, “The union tried to start off the talks with easy, softball issues, such as a dress-code dispute at a Texas telemarketing outlet where women must wear skirts, heels and stockings and men are obliged to suit up in ties and collared dress shirts – even though they have no contact with the public.

“But after only two meetings, management – led by new Dow Jones chief Rich Zannino – signaled it has no interest in discussing the dress-code flap or any of the union’s grievances in the talks.

“‘Basically, what they said is, ‘We don’t have to negotiate with you guys about anything,’ ‘ union head Steve Yount told The Post.

“Besides a new dress-code policy, union demands include protections for the dismissal of senior employees, wage increases of 8 percent, a promise to do away with outsourcing, an extra week of vacation and additional personal days.

“The current four-year pact expires at the end of January. The last time Dow Jones and the union tried to hammer out a deal, employees worked for over a year without a contract.

“At a bargaining session Wednesday, management suggested the union jettison its proposals and work from theirs, according to reps from the union, which represents about 2,000 employees from The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and other Dow Jones publications.”

Read more here.