Editorial Correspondents Contract Summary

City Tier Changes

1. No salary reductions as a result of any change.
2. Employees in the steps who move to a higher tier city will be placed at the next highest step closest to their current salary in the new tier.
3. From C to D: Philadelphia and Chicago
4. From B to C: Denver, Portland, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Austin
5. From C to B: Minneapolis/St. Paul (employee grand-fathered, no salary reduction)

Expenses

Office expenses:

1. $75.00/month effective August 1, 2000
2. $80.00/month effective August 1, 2001
3. $85.00/month effective August 1, 2002

1. Available to full-time employees with an office outside of their home:
2. Increase from $25.00 biweekly to $32.50 biweekly

Parental Leave

When the need is determined for the transfer of employee to work in another city, the company shall:

1. Provide written notice to the unit chair and employee stating the business reason for the transfer;
2. Meet with the Guild upon request
3. Allow the employee 30 days to accept the transfer
4. Allow an employee accepting the transfer 120 additional days before the transfer is effective
5. Continue reimbursement for transporting employee, his/her family, and household
6. Assure no salary or benefit reduction
7. Provide to an employee declining a transfer all benefits of Articles XXI and XVIII, sections 6,9, and 10, including severance at the RIF formula of one week for every three months of continuous employment, rehire list rights, and health coverage at the company’s expense at the rate of one month for every year of continuous employment up to six months.
   Holidays

Current contract language providing for any additional holidays observed by the federal government is replaced by language which provides for any additional national holidays recognized by an act of Congress.

Whereas BNA previously was required, for example, to give unit members time off when the President gave federal employees half a day at Christmas, BNA will no longer be required to do so.

Should the Congress vote for a new national holiday, unit members would automatically receive that.

Retirement Phase In

An employee who is no more than 12 months from the date of retirement eligibility under the Normal Retirement Date provisions or the Special Early Rule (Rule of 85/15) provisions of the retirement plan may elect to phase into retirement. Upon six months written advance notice of a firm retirement date, an employee may reduce his or her full time schedule to a part time schedule of not fewer than 20 hours per week. The part-time schedule may begin no earlier than six months prior to the retirement date. The employee’s salary and benefits will be prorated.

Health and Life

Part-time employees who work at least 30 hours a week will no longer be required to pay premiums for dependent coverage.

Tuition Aid

Permanent part-time employees with the equivalent of six months (rather than the current 24 months) full time service are eligible for tuition aid under Article XXVIII.

Work and Family

Increases adoption reimbursement from $2000 to $4000.

Court Duty

Clarifies that Article XXVIII’s provision for paid time off for jury duty or to answer a subpoena does not apply to court proceedings in which the employee is an interested party (such as a personal lawsuit).