Buyout Blues

Guild negotiators met with management representatives at Sun Park Friday to discuss the proposed buyout. Another meeting will be held on Monday. Management wants to roll out the package -- which will also go to members of other unions and those targeted in management -- on Tuesday. As usual, management representatives made vague threats of layoffs should the Guild not agree to the offer, or should not enough sign up.

Here's a summation of the offer:

Those accepting buyouts would get one week's pay for every six months of service at The Sun, up to a maximum of 52 weeks. Benefits also would be continued for a minimum of six months to a maximum of 52 weeks. The payout would be not be a lump sum, but instead would continue as if you were still an employee, with all applicable deductions still coming out of your check, for as long as you are eligible.

The deadline for applying for the buyout is 5 p.m. on Nov. 28. After applying, you have 24 hours to change your mind. Then the decision is irrevocable. The last day worked could be Nov. 29, but no later than Jan.13. That date will be determined "at the publisher's discretion taking into account the employee's request, if any."

Management gave the Guild a list of members in a wide variety of job classifications in the bargaining unit eligible for the buyout. Each classification has a cap on the number that management guarantees would get a buyout. If more than that number apply, the guaranteed buyouts would go to the most senior employees who ask for them. More buyouts can be granted, but those will be at the publisher's discretion.

There are about 140 represented employees on the list in 36 different job titles. The total number that are guaranteed buyouts is 84. Clearly, management does not expect to get to that number as it has stated that it is seeking a total of 75 company-wide. If you are not on the list, you can still ask for a buyout by going to the Human Resources Dept. and asking for a packet. It will be totally up to management if you get one.

As with the 2004 buyout, the Guild has problems with the timeline. Federal law guarantees that employees over 40 -- who have to sign a waiver of their right to sue for age discrimination to get the buyout -- be given 45 days to consider that waiver and another 7 days to rescind. There are obviously not 45 days between Nov. 15 when the packets go out and Nov. 28 when decisions must be made. Management says that you still have the required time to consider the waiver after you sign up; but the trick is that if you then decide not to sign the waiver, you get no buyout, and you have no job. That is hardly what federal authorities had in mind when they put in the 45 day requirement.

But, we got around this last time and we can do it again if Guild members think that it is worthwhile in order to get members access to the buyout and lessen the possibility of layoffs. Let us know.

Two things to keep in mind:

1) If it were not for the Guild, you would have no choice. Management could pick and choose whom it wanted to get rid of and whether or not it wanted to offer a buyout, which is exactly what has happened at non-union papers.

2) This should not be happening. Because of all of us at The Sun -- including the many targeted for buyouts -- this is an extremely lucrative enterprise, probably making in the neighborhood of a 20 percent profit. It takes very poor management to translate that kind of profit into a need to reduce staff. Thank you, Tribune Co.

Thanks for your continued support,

Michael Hill, ext. 6070
Bill Salganik, ext 6110
Angie Kuhl, ext. 6844
Julie Bell, ext. 6753
Joe Queen, Sun Park