Santa Rosa Press Democrat Guild Rejects Pay Cut

The guild at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat rejected a proposed 3 percent pay cut 81% to 19 percent Friday.

The Press Democrat and the Petaluma Argus Courier, both owned by NYT Co., are looking to reduce payroll costs by 10%.

Managers took a 5% pay cut that will go into effect Jan. 1, and nonunion employees have already seen their pay dinged three percent. But the PD union argued that the three percent cut was on top of 2.5% cut instituted in March, and a pay freeze through 2011.

A yes vote would have meant a promise from the company that there would be no more layoffs.

“It’s unclear as of this writing where the road leads next…,” wrote unit leaders on the guild’s blog.