Parties reach tentative agreement on health care costs

The Guild and Company reached a tentative agreement on health care Tuesday, with a ratification vote of the membership to be held next week.

The Guild’s bargaining team is recommending a yes vote.

Under the agreement, the union members will pay $43.90 a week, up $6.14 or 16.3 percent, from the current $37.76.

If ratified, the increase will take effect with the pay period that begins Monday, January 21.

“We know any increase in health care costs is difficult for our members when we’ve gone so long without a raise,” Guild President Tim O’Brien said. “But we worked with the Company to closely scrutinize the numbers and to bring it to something more manageable.”

A vote will be held on the Company premises. The exact date will be determined later this week. We will share details as soon as we have them.