1. What happens if I already maxed out my 401k account this year? Can I still put the 3% lump sum payment into my account?
Yes, but the payment will go into your account in January of 2011 and be applied towards your 2011 contribution total. This only impacts about 2% of our overall membership. For the majority of our members, the payment will be applied to their 2010 contribution total.

2. Can I split the 3% lump sum payment between my 401k account and cash?

Yes, but unless you return the form indicating your decision to do this to payroll by December 17th, your payment will be paid to you in cash. The form is on Compass.

3. Will the 3% lump sum be direct deposited into my bank account?

No, all 3% lump sum payments will be issued in the form of a live check (minus all applicable taxes and deductions) unless you choose to defer all or a portion of your payment to your 401k account.

4. What is the 3% lump sum payment based on?

Your annualized weekly pay. Your weekly pay defined as your base pay plus merit pay. No other pay types (OT, commissions, etc.) will be used in the calculation.

5. What do you think will happen if we vote no?

We would go back to the table. But, how soon and what would be offered is uncertain.

6. Why did the Executive Committee unanimously support the contract?

We considered the grim outlook for the newspaper industry as a whole. We also reviewed the current financial condition and projected financial condition of the Globe. We believe it is the best offer we could negotiate under these circumstances. We understand this tentative agreement does not restore what was lost during the 2009 negotiations, but it is a step in the right direction. The committee must negotiate for the good of the union as a whole and we tried to get the most we could for the greatest number of members. Healthcare, for example, was at the top of most members’ wish lists. We believe the changes to the health plan will greatly benefit our members well into the future.

7. What again about part-timers?

We submitted numerous proposals to benefit part-timers. We succeeded in restoring the life insurance benefit eliminated in 2009. Unfortunately, in the case of profit sharing, the company would not budge. The Globe last year agreed to profit sharing language for full-timers only. This time around, the company would not agree to change the language to include part-timers. We tried many different ways to change this, but the answer was always, “no”.

8. How bad is it that we are letting the Globe operate outside union rules for up to two years?

We were troubled by the Globe’s request to launch new initiatives with non-union workers. However, they made the case that they needed “flexibility” to start and stop new initiatives quickly. We agreed to that request, but with limits.

A new initiative, such as the current Your Town websites, may last up to 24 months. At that point, if the initiative continues, the Guild can try to organize workers in those jobs. If the Globe opts not to put the jobs into the Guild, they will have to pay the union $2,000 per position per year. That money will go into the union’s treasury. It’s important to note that the “new initiative” language must also be renegotiated in 2016.

9. How do I get an absentee ballot?

Our Election Commissioner Pat Daly will be in the Globe cafeteria on December 8th from 11-2 and again on December 16th from 3-7. You may also request an absentee ballot be mailed to your home by contacting Pat Daly directly at pdaly1291@netscape.net.

10. When and where is the contract vote?

The contract vote will take place in the Link on December 22nd from 8am-8pm. All members in good standing are encouraged to vote.

December 7, 2010