Providence Newspaper Guild - Guild Leader October 11, 2001

GUILD BOARD APPROVES OFFERING BUYOUT PLAN

ProJo Pulls
2002 Wage Offer
as Belo Announces One-Year Freeze

The Journal withdrew its proposed 2002 wage increases Wednesday, as the Belo Corp announced a corporate-wide wage freeze and staff downsizing.

The Journal cited reduced advertising revenues as the reason.

The change in the offer was contained in a letter appearing to respond to a Guild letter to Belo Chairman Robert Decherd calling for a resumption of negotiations. Wednesday's letter, signed by Journal Human Resources director Tom McDonough, also offered to resume contract talks.

Guild leaders said they do not know if the offer marks a sincere change in the company position, or merely reflects its legal obligation to accompany a change in its proposal with a negotiating session.

In February, when the Journal withdrew its wage proposal for 2000, it also offered to negotiate. The National Labor Relations Board has issued unfair labor practice charges over the previous withdrawal of a wage offer.

Guild Executive Board members welcomed the opportunity to resume talks, which were terminated by the company in February. But added that they were skeptical that the company would improve its contract offer.

• Guild members should get buyout packages by Tuesday, Oct. 16, then have 45 days to accept.
• At bargaining table, company refused to change its offer.
• "Trust us" was company's advice on conflicting wording of its documents.

The Guild Executive Board today voted not to object to the company's buyout plan that will allow workers 55-years and older to leave the company with up to 18 months of cash.

A subcommittee of the board met for about an hour with company negotiators, who agreed only to minor revisions in the buyout documents, even though they acknowledged the union had valid concerns about ambiguous wording.

In approving the offer, Executive Board members said they did not want to stand in the way of a benefit for people who were looking to leave the Journal. However, Guild members are urged to carefully review the fine print of the buyout offer, which includes waivers of legal rights.

Guild members accepting the buyout would give up any claim to back pay resulting from the pending unfair labor practice charges.

During Wednesday's meeting, the Journal refused to consider Guild suggestions that the buyout offer be improved by extending medical insurance or by offering it to employees younger than 55.

Guild members with general questions are encouraged to call the Guild office. The Guild cannot give legal or financial advice and urges members to consult their own advisors.