Timesland journalists gain raises and pay scale with third Lee Enterprises contract
ROANOKE, Va. — Journalists at The Roanoke Times have voted 21-0 to ratify a contract with newspaper owner Lee Enterprises that includes an employee pay scale, pay raises for everyone for the next two years, and an increase in mileage reimbursement.
This is the first pay scale in the newsroom since the union formed 5 years ago. The Timesland News Guild represents more than 21 employees at The Roanoke Times.
“Today is a watershed moment in my 28 years with The Roanoke Times,” said Michael Belcher, a copy editor and chief steward. “For the first time, we have a pay scale to provide fairer and more equitable salaries to reward people – not just for their hard work but also their years of experience and service to the community. This pay scale will help recruit new journalists and encourage our best and brightest employees to stay in Southwest Virginia.”
Through the tireless advocacy and commitment of Timesland journalists, we achieved, among other benefits:
A pay raise of 3% for most union members, a victory the union hopes to build on in future years to ensure dedicated people can afford to stay in journalism.
Ten employees — half of the newsroom — will get an immediate raise in excess of 3% (from 5% to 15%) to begin taking long-overdue steps to correct salary inequities.
Union members will receive improved mileage reimbursement for the traveling they do in their personal vehicles for work. All employees will receive another 3% pay increase next year or move up the pay scale based on years of service (whichever amount is greater).
“My colleagues at The Roanoke Times have put in long hours to fight for others in the newsroom and for future generations of journalists.” Belcher said. “By standing together, we’ve made gains that would not have been possible otherwise.”
Members of the Timesland bargaining committee spent four months planning strategies and negotiating with the company.”
Although the guild did not achieve everything it sought in this contract, Belcher said, “We will continue to work toward improving the payscale and mileage reimbursement and adding Juneteenth as a recognized holiday.
“As Thomas Jefferson wrote to a friend in 1790, ‘The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches. We must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time and eternally press forward for what is yet to get.’ ”
About The Roanoke Times: Serving Roanoke and Southwest Virginia since its founding in 1886 The Roanoke Times publishes a daily print and online newspaper. The largest professional news outlet in Southwest Virginia, The Roanoke Times employs 21 journalists.
About The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America: The NewsGuild-CWA represents more than 24,000 journalists and other media workers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, including The Charlottesville Daily Progress, The Virginian-Pilot, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune.
