The tentative agreement was reached late on Oct. 17 after three days of intensive, off-the-record talks, the union said. The pact, which runs through July 31, 2011, would increase wages for all employees by 2 percent on July 1, 2008; 2 percent on July 1, 2009; and 3 percent in 2010. The MediaNews matching 401(k) plan would be offered to eligible employees upon ratification.

The agreement includes a pension freeze, a one-time vacation concession, and significant changes to medical insurance and disability pay. It leaves intact nearly all of the language in the contract, including seniority on layoffs, the right to daily overtime and mileage reimbursement. It avoids the two-tier wage scheme the company had sought, and newsroom team leaders would remain covered by the Guild.

If ratified, the agreement would bar layoffs through December 31, 2008.

Three key issues that Guild members identified as critical to the future of the Pioneer Press were addressed in the talks: 1) the company agreed to partner with the Guild to apply for a grant of up to $400,000 from the state of Minnesota to design a training program focused on multimedia skills and the paper’s digital future; 2) the company agreed to a joint committee to investigate and make recommendations to resolve issues and concerns affecting productivity in advertising; and 3) the company agreed to include content employees at TwinCities.com in the Guild.

A unit meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 24, to present the agreement and answer questions, with the vote likely to follow this week.

This article is adapted from one that appeared on the Guild\'s website, www.shoptalknet.org