Tentative Agreements

Article 2 -- Jurisdiction

12-17-99

Section 1. Language from Advertising contract.

5-3-00

5.  (a)  All employees and irregular extras covered by this Agreement who are members of the Guild as of March 7, 1995 or who thereafter become members shall, as a condition of employment, maintain their membership for the duration of this Agreement.

 (b)  All new employees hired after March 7, 1995 and irregular extras shall, as a condition of employment, as soon after their date of hire as legally permissible (30 days), become and remain members of the Guild for the duration of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 3 -- INFORMATION

12-17-99

1. The Publisher shall supply the Guild twice a year, on request monthly, with a list containing the following information for all employees on the payroll and for irregular extras:

                (a) Name, address, sex, date of birth and Social Security number;

                (b) Date of hiring;

                (c) Classification;

                (d) Experience rating and experience anniversary date where applicable;

                (e) Salary.

12-2-99

3. The Publisher shall notify the Guild monthly, at least bi-weekly in writing, of the following:

(a) Any resignations, retirements or deaths not previously reported to the Guild. occurring within the month;

(b) Any changes in the data specified in Section not previously reported to the Guild. occurring within the month, and the effective date thereof;

(c) The names of any irregular extras employed not previously reported to the Guild during the month under the terms of Article XVII, the number of hours worked, the total compensation and the specific reasons for such employment.

11-12-99

9. The Guild shall be furnished monthly (or as otherwise made available to the Retirement Committee) the following:

                (a) Changes in list of bargaining unit retirees with plan benefits;

                (b) Minutes of the meetings of the Retirement Committee;

                (c) Annual actuarial report;

                (d) Annual trustees' report;

                (e) Copies of applications for retirement by bargaining unit employees;

                (f) Copies of IRS Letters of Determination.

ARTICLE 5 -- GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

11-19-99

Revise Section 1(a) to replace "Providence Journal-Bulletin with "Providence Journal"

ARTICLE 6 -- SENIORITY

12-17-99

2. No seniority will be attained or acquired by any new employee until such employee has completed a probationary period or by an irregular extra. The probationary period for new employees shall be six (6) calendar months for reporters with an experience rating of two (2) years or less, Classified Sales Managers, Field Sales Manager, Department Store Manager, Retail Automotive Sales Manager, Sales Manager-General Advertising, Assistant Credit Manager and Advertising Sales Representative (Retail, National and Classified) with an experience rating of six (6) months or less; thirty-two (32) working days for employees classified as State Staff Office Assistants, Copy Clerks, Library Assistants, General Assistants, Clerical Receptionist, Advertising General Assistants, Research Clerks, Credit Assistants, Classified Switchboard, Clerk Stenographers, Data Entry Clerks, Make-up Copy Clerks, Credit Clerks, Cashier, Clerk Typist, Receptionist, Mail Clerks, Office Clerks, Messengers, delivery clerks, Porters and Lumpers; and sixty-five (65) working days for all other new employees. During an employee's probationary period, such employee may be laid off or discharged as exclusively determined by the Publisher. Upon completion of the probationary period, the new employee's seniority will be credited from the date of the commencement of employment.

ARTICLE 7 -- TRANSFERS AND PROMOTIONS

12-17-99

5. (a) Promoted employees shall be given trial periods as follows: Up to six (6) calendar months for those promoted to Section Editor, Editorial Writer, Page Editor, Picture Editor, Makeup Editor, State Staff Manager, Artist, Photographer, Reporter, Field Sales Manager, Department Store Manager, Retail Automotive Sales Manager, Sales Manager-General Advertising, Classified Sales Manager, Assistant Credit Manager, Advertising Artist, Advertising Promotion Person Specialist, Head Makeup Coordinator, Advertising Sales Representative (Retail, National and Classified) and Makeup Person; up to sixty-five (65) working days for those promoted to Makeup-Copy Editor, Copy Editor, Picture Editor Assistant, Makeup Assistant, News Specialist, Departmental Assistant, Dark Room Assistant, Visual Technician, Editorial Assistant, Assistant Credit Office Manager, National Office Supervisor, Assistant Detail Manager, Assistant Telephone Room Manager, Night Classified Office Supervisor, Assistant to Credit Manager, Bookkeeper, Merchandise Specialist, Assistant to the Night Classified Supervisor, Senior Display Marked Paper Clerk, Inside Telephone Sales, Inside Display Sales, Classified Counter Sales, Computer Operator, Advertising Tabulator, Senior Dispatch Room Clerk, Lead Data Entry Clerk, Secretary, Detail Department Service Person, National Order Clerk, Classified Clerk, Display Marked Paper Clerk, and Dispatch Room Clerk; and up to thirty-two (32) working days for those promoted to Special Writer, Overnight Editor, Assistant Art Department Head, Chief Night Artist, Library Assistant, State Staff Office Assistant, General Assistant, Receptionist, Credit Clerk, Advertising General Assistant, Classified Switchboard, Clerk Stenographer, Data Entry Clerks, Makeup Copy Clerk, Credit Clerk, Cashier, Clerk-Typist, Porter and Lumper, and all other positions.

(b) During such trial periods the employee shall receive, in the classification to which he or she is advanced, at least the minimum next higher than his or her salary in the classification from which he or she is advanced, without penalty or prejudice.

ARTICLE 12 -- SICK PAY AND SHORT TERM DISABILITY

5-3-00

1. An employee shall not forfeit any part of his or her pay because of absence on account of illness up to and including one (1) week's time in any calendar year. Up to three (3) days may be used for illness in the immediate family.

ARTICLE 14 -- INSURANCE

5-3-00

4. The Company shall provide, at no cost to employees, short term disability coverage as previously agreed and long-term disability insurance providing a fifty percent (50%) sixty percent (60%) replacement income benefit up to a maximum benefit of $3,000 $10,000 per month.

5-3-00

11.(a)  The Publisher agrees to provide a special risk death and dismemberment insurance policy, covering employees so long as they are within the bargaining unit at any time they are required to travel away from the premises of their normal place of employment on business for the Publisher.  The death benefit under this plan will be thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) 1-1/2 times base salary (minimum of $100,000) per employee.

5-3-00

12.  The Company shall offer eligible employees participation in Vision Service Plan for eye exams, frames and lenses. Employees shall be responsible for 100% of the premium cost.

5-3-00

13. Employee Assistance

The Company shall provide, at no cost to eligible employees, a confidential employee assistance plan that offers behavioral health care assistance to employees and their dependents. The plan will provide phone support 24 hours a day and will cover up to six visits with a local counselor.

5-3-00

14. Flexible spending accounts

a. Dependent Care Spending: Employees will be allowed to participate in a dependent care spending account by contributing pre-tax dollars to cover qualified expenses. The Company will provide a 100% match, on the employee contribution, up to a maximum of twenty dollars ($20) per week.

b. Health Care Spending: Employees will be allowed to participate in a health care spending  account by contributing pre-tax dollars to cover qualified expenses.

5-3-00

15. Adoption Assistance

(a) The Company shall reimburse up to $3,000 of eligible expenses associated with adoption. The lifetime maximum benefit available per family is $9,000.

(b) Eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time the child is placed in the home are covered by this policy.

ARTICLE 15 -- Leaves of absence

11-12-99

Revise paragraph 5(f) to replace "The Providence Journal-Bulletin Medical Department" with "The Company's Human Resources Department" and replace "The Providence Journal-Bulletin" with "The Providence Journal Company."

ARTICLE 17 -- Irregular Extra & Parttime employees

1-24-00

5. (a) Irregular extras who have completed four hundred sixty-eight (468) hours of work, and any part-time employees, shall be entitled to pro-rata pay for the holidays recognized in Article X of this Agreement. Pro-rata holiday pay shall be based, in the case of part-time employees, upon the number of hours in the part-time employee's regular work week as compared to thirty-seven and one-half (37 1/2); and, in the case of irregular extras, at the rate of one (1) hour's pay for each twenty-three and six tenths (23 6/10ths) hours of work or fraction thereof. In no case shall a part-time employee receive less than their regularly scheduled straight-time pay during a holiday week.

11-12-99

7. Part-time employees regularly working twenty-two and one-half (22 1/2) hours or more shall be covered for the insurance benefits set forth in Article XIV hereof. Part-time employees regularly working less than twenty-two and one-half (22 1/2) hours per week may obtain coverage medical and dental insurance under the medical insurance plans offered by the Company under Article 14 for the Blue Cross and Physicians Service, Harvard Community Health Plan or United Health Plans of New England benefits upon payment by the employee of the applicable premium at the group rate.

Article 18 -- Wages

5-3-00

New A-1 equal to N-1 and renumber other grids

Research Analyst                                                  A-10 to A-8

12-17-99

Delete: D. Gainsharing Program

D. Profit Performance Bonus

Bargaining Unit employees shall be included in the Company’s Profit Performance Bonus plan. The decision to pay a bonus and/or the amount of a bonus shall be within the sole discretion of the Company and not subject to contractual grievance or arbitration procedures. If the Company decided to pay a bonus, it shall be paid to bargaining unit employees on the same basis as other employees of the Company.

12-17-99

E. 5.  (a) An employee in a lower classification assigned to and working as a substitute in any of the positions listed in the following table for one-half or more of his or her shift shall receive an extra per diem allowance as set forth in this table:

Eff. 1/1/98                Eff. 1/1/00                1/1/01                1/1/02

A.  Managing Editors                                   $11.04                $11.70                     $21.25                   Increase by

Same rate as

B.  News Editors                                                   8.84                9.37                         $17.05                   general increase

C. City Editor                                                        7.38                7.82                         $14.25

Sports Editor

Financial Editor

State News Editor

Special Features Editor

Telegraph Editor

Programming Manager                               

National Advertising Manager

Sales Director

D. Chief Photographer                                        6.30                6.68                         $12.15             

Librarian

Chief Artist

Associate Managing Editors

Classified Office Manager                               

Asst. Data Proc. Mgr.-Operations

Classification Sales Manager

Detail Department Manager

Telephone Room Manager

E.  Regional News Editors                                   5.89                6.24                         $11.35

Systems Editor

Pawtucket State Staff Manager

Assistant City Editor

Sunday and Holiday Day City Editor

Other positions excluded under Article I

F. Secretary                                                           2.62                2.78                         $5.00

Confidential Secretaries

D.Day and Night Foremen of Porters   4.43                $4.70      

(b) An Employee assigned to and working as a substitute in a higher classification not listed in the foregoing table will be paid an extra per diem allowance based upon the difference between his or her present minimum and the next higher minimum in the classification in which he or she is assigned, which allowance shall be not less than two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per diem. The minimum amount shall be increased annually by the same percentage as the general wage increase.

ARTICLE 20 -- RETIREMENT PLANS

12-17-99

(b) The Providence Journal Company A.H. Belo Corporation is the Plan Administrator.

11-19-99

ARTICLE 22 -- DIVERSITY COMMITTEE: 2. delete

Article 24 --Duration

11-12-99

2. delete

11-5-99

In all references, Change 1999 to 2002 and Change 2000 to 2003

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - No. 2

11-19-99

Change: 1. Up to fifteen (15) two (2) interns may participate in the program in the News bargaining unit and up to fifteen (15) interns may participate in the program in the Advertising bargaining unit at any time. No new interns shall be admitted to this program.

Add:

10. This agreement shall terminate June 22, 2001.

11-19-99

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - No. 4: Delete -- covered by Art 3.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - No. 6

11-5-99

3. Any interns so employed would be credited upon hire with two years of experience and placed at the "2" level on the Reporter grid set forth in Article XVIII. Interns who are hired as regular employees shall not be required to serve a probation period.

11-5-99

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - NO. 10: Delete

12-2-99

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - NO. 11: Delete

11-5-99

Add New Agreement executed during term of contract:

WRNI                                     6-18-99                   Summer Interns                   6-4-99

12-17-99

Electronic publishing agreement of  7-13-98

11-12-99

Formatting: Identify Article numbers with Arabic numerals.