Gay Today: World

NLGJA Hails Tribune Offer
of Domestic Partner Benefits

Compiled By GayToday

NLGJA President Robert Dodge

Washington, D.C.--The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) has congratulated the Tribune Company for its decision to offer its employees domestic partner benefits beginning January 1, 2002.

The far-sighted decision extends the benefits already in place for employees of the former Times Mirror Corporation following the recent merger of the two media companies.

The new policy affects all 30,000 employees of the Tribune Co., which includes 11 daily newspapers and 22 television stations. The Tribune domestic partner coverage will include both same-sex partners and opposite sex, unmarried couples.

In addition to the extension of equal benefits, NLGJA also is pleased to acknowledge that Tribune added sexual orientation to its company-wide nondiscrimination policy, following the Times Mirror practice.

NLGJA leaders and members employed by the Tribune Company worked effectively with management, leading up to and following the merger, to urge the adoption of equal benefits and to raise other concerns of gay and lesbian employees in the workplace.

Karen Bailis, an NLGJA board member and assistant news editor at Newsday, said, "Tribune has shown it values me and my gay and lesbian colleagues and all employees by offering these benefits. It's gratifying to know that our education efforts and the lobbying conducted by gay and non-gay employees has resulted in tangible success."

Robert Dodge, NLGJA President noted that, "Employees who cannot provide health insurance for their loved ones through workplace policies face financial hardships and stress in trying to cover the costs of medical care or insurance themselves."

"Equal pay for equal work - that's the principle behind domestic partner benefits for gay and lesbian workers. On average, benefits account for 39% of payroll, which means that gay and lesbian employees in committed, long term relationships are effectively being paid less than their married coworkers."

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Dodge specifically cited NLGJA member and Tribune online journalist Christine Badowski who revealed how this breakthrough affects her career, her partner's and their son, Sam:

"For the first time, like any married couple, we have real choices about our family's future. My partner, Julie, now has the ability to stay home with Sam -- and to work a couple different jobs for our friends who have their own businesses, but cannot offer her essential health benefits. And, who knows? We might even consider a second child if she's able to be home full-time."

The number of news media companies and associated unions offering domestic partner (DP) benefits has more than doubled (from 26 to 73) since 1997, according to a study conducted in 2000 by NLGJA. Nearly seven times as many media employers offer DP benefits as did in 1994, when NLGJA first researched the scope of DP benefits and only 10 media companies offered them.