As a member of the Guild, you are entitled to a number of benefits provided by the Guild or negotiated in collective bargaining over the years. Some kick in automatically; others you must apply for.
Medical, vision and dental insurance After two consecutive months of at least 75 hours of work (in each month), insurance begins with premiums fully paid for yourself and your dependents. You need to choose from available plans and fill out forms in Human Resources (408) 920-5624.
Holidays Paid holidays are New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. After the first year, your birthday and anniversary date of hire are also paid holidays. Holiday pay is prorated for part-time employees.
Vacations Three weeks after your first year (prorated based on total days worked in the first year), four weeks after two years and five weeks after five years of employment as of Jan. 1 of each year.
Sick leave Five days of sick leave for every six months of employment (prorated for part-timers). Unused sick leave may be carried over from one year to the next. No ceiling on accumulated sick leave.
Retirement Guild members become vested in the retirement plan after five years' employment at the Mercury News.
401(k) plan You can elect to have up to 15 percent of your pay withheld for a tax-deferred retirement fund. The company does not match your contributions. Contact Human Resources.
From the Guild
Long-term disability insurance The window to apply without screening closes 60 days after hire date. For a payroll deduction of 0.95 percent, you receive 60 percent of your salary (tax-free) after 90 days of disability. (A Guild-sponsored benefit).
Scholarships Our local provides a $500 scholarship each year to members or their immediate families to attend college. We also reimburse members' tuition for labor studies classes. Additional scholarship aid is provided by The Newspaper Guild, Communications Workers of America (30 awards of $3,000 a year) and AFL-CIO.
Legal Services Union Plus Legal Service allows us to consult an attorney on personal matters. We get a free 30-minute consultation, a free follow-up call or letter and a 30 percent discount on additional services. Complete the union membership form at Union Privilege to see a list of participating lawyers.
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