YellowPages.com issues are being bargainined at the same time as the AT&T and DGA contracts are. The primary difference is that with an existing contract we have an expiration date in DGA and AT&T Advertising Solutions.

The parties have been in discussions on benefits for YP.com. The primary issue is the cost of the existing Aetna plan. Due to a few extremely large medical claims the cost of Aetna was scheduled to increase dramatically. As a result, the parties are reviewing and evaluating a nationwide HMO to be offered by Cigna. it appears the cost would represent a modest monthly increase to our membership with virtually identical coverages and doctors. Stay tuned to this website for further updates on benefits as they become available.

Compensation/commissions have been the sticking point for YP.com since the very early stages. Primarily it has been the debate on annuity payments versus a full upfront commission on sales made as well as a reasonable fixed commission rate for renewals. Through our bargaining we have begun to explore various ways to compensate fairly for those who are able to renew a high percentage of their existing advertisers and ramp those commissions through gates based upon percentages as well as to compensate new sales through progressive gates. Your Union has been committed to sticking to the bargaining table in order to develop a compensation model superior to the one currently being used in the Premise channel. I hope to visit both locations, Henderson and Charlotte in the next few weeks to explain and discuss our progress in bargaining.

Fraternally,

Casey M. Lewis