The Associated Press revised its proposal to create a new position of news associate, addressing many of the concerns raised by News Media Guild bargainers.
The Guild and the company also signed off Wednesday on an expense policy that maintains current language while requiring staffers who receive a minimum mileage rate to file their actual miles driven and pay income tax on any overages as required by law.
The AP has said it intended the news associate proposal as a positive one so the Guild sought more details about how the position would help the union-covered staff.
“The AP says it must have a way to deal with member needs for low-level news work and that it views the news associate proposal as responsive to Guild complaints about the workload,” Guild President Martha Waggoner said. “We agree that the staff has too much work in too little time so we’re pleased the AP is working to answer our concerns.” Continue reading