News Media Guild

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2006 -- The News Media Guild and The Associated Press reached agreement on a new travel and expense policy covering journalists, technicians, and other workers at the news cooperative.

Among the many improvements negotiated by your union:

• acceptance of a new credit card for Guild-covered employees is voluntary. The card is not a true credit card; employees are financially responsible if they accept it.
• uncontested portions of expense accounts will be paid
• added safety considerations language
• addressed journalist concerns on how expenses for meetings with confidential sources should be handled.
• overtime is an expense consideration when booking travel
• Acela business class can be used for company rail travel
• employees will not be reimbursed for parking/traffic tickets except in very limited circumstances instead of the old “You will not be paid.”