Buyout offer extended to March 14
Dear Guild member,
By now you should have received a notice from Philadelphia Media Network Senior Human Resources Director Chris Bonanducci that the company’s buyout offer, open to fulltime employees at the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com has been extended to March 14.
In a Wednesday afternoon meeting, Guild leaders asked the company that in the event, after the buyout period ends, that any members are laid off involuntarily, that those members receive the minimum buyout package of $5,000 plus one month payment of COBRA medical benefits. The company agreed.
Due to the extended buyout window the company will not notify the Guild of what, if any, positions may be eliminated by layoff, until March 15. At that time any impacted members will be notified.
The last day worked for any members who take the buyout or could be laid off remains March 31.
We ask any member who volunteers for the buyout by contacting Chris Bonanducci to please also contact Guild Executive Director Bill Ross at the Guild office 215-928-0118, by cell 267-240-8540 or email BRoss@local-10.com to let him know you have applied or plan to apply.
Many considering the buyout are looking for information regarding your pension or your annuity severance under the old Knight-Ridder severance plan. Those members should contact Cindy Swartz at Richard Gabriel Associates at 215-773-0900 or CSwartz@RGabriel.com through March 1st.
After March 1st you may contact Patrick M. O’Hara at Benefits Processing, Inc. for those calculations. His phone number is 856-616-2090 or email POHara@benefitprocessing.com.
As usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In solidarity,
Dan Gross, President,
Bill Ross, Executive Director,
and the Executive Board of the Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America Local 38010
