The journalists of The Roanoke Times and Laker Weekly have ratified a new contract with Lee Enterprises, the Timesland News Guild announced on Tuesday.
The two-year agreement includes an increase of almost 12% in the minimum salary, across-the-board pay raises of 2% in each year of the two-year agreement, and adjustments to correct pay inequities. It is the second contract for the newsroom union, which that formed in 2020, and covers about 30 people.
“We fought incredibly hard for additional pay raises and a higher minimum so The Roanoke Times can stay competitive with other papers,” said Alison Graham, union vice chair and a member of the bargaining committee. “Wages and other benefits ensure that our newspaper can continue to punch above its weight and drive important news coverage in Southwest Virginia.”
The new contract also includes better layoff policies, additional parental leave and expanded paid time off.
“Thanks to the public’s advocacy for local news, as well as the efforts of our members, we arrived at a contract that makes important strides and helps make it possible for us to continue serving our readers,” said Alicia Petska, Guild chair and a member of the bargaining committee.
The announcement of the agreement’s ratification comes one week after workers and supporters picketed outside the former home of The Roanoke Times in downtown Roanoke. Community members also rallied around the Guild and its journalists during an earlier petition campaign.
The 12% increase in minimum full-time pay means wages will rise to $40,000 between now and 2023. Together, the higher minimum payrate and inequity corrections mean nearly half of Guild members will get raises above 2%.
Lee Enterprises fought the wage increases, union negotiators said, but Timesland negotiators pressed for them as vital to the future of the newspapers, and their ability to recruit and retain dedicated journalists.
Management also resisted raising its mileage reimbursement rate to the IRS standard – a point highlighted in the petition campaign – but announced it would increase its prior rate by several cents per mile beginning this month.
“We didn’t achieve everything we wanted, but we could not have secured these new benefits without the inspiring support and help of our community,” Petska said.
Photo at top: Workers and supporters picketed outside the former home of The Roanoke Times in downtown Roanoke on April 4.