Village Voice workers, members of UAW-Local 2110, announced in a statement sent to Latin Post released Sunday, they've ratified a new contact with Voice Media Group, averting a strike at the legendary news organization.

The new contract gives the 27 sales, marketing and editorial staff a pay increase, protected maternity leave rights, childcare expenses, reprint fees and minimal changes to health care benefits.

"In many ways, this has been a bruising time. But in another sense, this has been a beautiful and unifying experience for our staff," said Eden Shulz, secretary-treasurer with UAW Local 2110. "The sales and editorial teams pulled together as a group to find our common values and our common strength."

As part of the new contract, employees receive a $25 per week pay raise, or $1,200 a year, with additional raises in 2015 and 2016. Childcare expenses for all employees with at least a year of service, whether full or part-time. Preserving a free health care option with higher co-pays and deductibles and other out of pocket costs.

Workers will be required to pay 10-20 percent of the premium, approximately $45 a month for an individual, depending on the plan they chose. The average salary for a Village Voice employee is $45,000.

Matthew Gorton, from Hiltzik Strategies LLC, in a statement sent to Latin Post on behalf of the Voice Media Group, said, "We are very pleased to have reached an amicable and mutually beneficial agreement, which addresses the company's business needs while strongly reinforcing our appreciation and commitment to our staff and their priorities."

Employees first rallied outside their offices on June 30 as their contract was due to expire with management submitting a proposal that employers contribute 48 percent to 52 percent to their own health benefit premium. After 13 hours of negotiations, the contract expired with both parties unable to reach an agreement. Local 2110 members voted unanimously to strike and to decide later on a strike date. 

The Village Voice is owned by privately held media company Voice Media Group, based in Denver. The company owns and operates 11 weekly newspapers in addition to the Village Voice: LA Weekly (Los Angeles), Westword (Denver), New Times (Phoenix), the Houston Press, the Dallas Observer, the Riverfront Times (St. Louis), New Times (Miami), City Pages (Minneapolis), New Times (Broward/Palm Beach) and OC Weekly (Orange County).

The Technical, Office and Professional (TOP) Union, UAW-Local 2110, has 30 contracts covering over 3000 workers in universities, publishing, museums, law firms and other offices, according to its website. They typically represent computer operators, editors, graphic artists, librarians, museum curators and secretaries and have broken ground in winning contracts, including childcare benefits, flex-time, domestic partner benefits and family leave.