Buyout Agreement

The Guild and Sun management have reached agreement on a buyout program. In the agreement, the Guild makes clear its reservations about whether the deadlines set by the Sun comply with federal law that requires a 45-day period to consider waiving certain rights. However, the deal allows individual members to make their own decisions about whether they want to accept the buyout, waiving, if they choose, their own rights to have more time to consider the package.

The Guild will hold a membership meeting tonight -- Monday -- at 6:30 p.m. at Center Stage to discuss the buyouts.

We are obviously pleased to be able to bring you this news. From the beginning of this process, the Guild has tried to avoid involuntary layoffs. We hope that this package is lucrative enough to achieve that end. We tried to make it more lucrative, but management would not go along. So it will be up to our members to decide.

What is crucial to remember is that taking this buyout is your decision and yours alone. You should make it in your own best interests. Do not be intimidated by anyone to do anything else. In the agreement, the Guild has the right to challenge any attempt by management to talk someone into taking the package that turns into a threat of making your working life so miserable that you have no choice but to leave.

The 63 of you who are on management's list of those eligible for the buyout began receiving packets outlining the offer Friday. Anyone else interested in considering a buyout must pick up and sign for an information packet by 5 p.m. TOMORROW -- June 15. Picking up a packet does not obligate you to take the buyout, but you cannot be considered if you do not get the packet by that date.

The basic outlines of the buyout offer are this:

1) One week of severance pay for every six months of service with a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of 52.

2) The last day to apply for the program is June 25. If you apply by June 18, you can choose to take your buyout as a continuation of your salary with all benefits through the severance period. After June 18, the only option is a lump sum payout with no benefits. Taking the lump sum means you can elect retiree medical coverage if you are at least 55 years old and have at least 15 years of service. Sun management has said it will withdraw this plan and the Guild is reviewing this matter.

3) There is a three day period to change your mind if you apply.

4) Anyone getting a buyout cannot be employed at any Tribune paper in the future, though you can make freelance arrangements.

5) Management has put caps on the numbers of buyouts it is looking for in certain job categories. If more than that number apply, decisions on who gets the buyout will be made by seniority. All other decisions about who can get a buyout will be at management's discretion.

6) The last day of work for those taking buyouts will be no later than July 30.

This has been a difficult week for all of us. The Guild is disappointed that we could not get management to offer our members a better buyout package. We know you understand that we could not agree to signing away your federally-mandated rights. Though we wish those rights were better protected, we are pleased that we can take this step that might avoid layoffs.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the many Guild members who have given those of us in leadership positions so many expressions of confidence and support as we have struggled with these tough decisions.

It is yet another confirmation of what a strong and united union we have.

-Michael Hill, unit chair

TONIGHT: GUILD MEMBERSHIP MEETING - MONDAY, JUNE 14, 6:30 P.M. IN THE HEAD THEATER, CENTER STAGE, 700 N. CALVERT ST.

TOMORROW: MEETING FOR GUILD ACTIVISTS - TUES. JUNE 15, AT NOON, GUILD OFFICE AT 415 ST. PAUL PLACE. ALL ARE WELCOME.