Post-Dispatch makes 'last, best, final' offer

Hours after a St. Louis Newspaper Guild rally outside the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lee Enterprises presented its "last, best and final" offer to the guild. The offer now goes to guild members for a vote, tentatively scheduled for March 27.

According to the guild's website, the offer includes several pay cuts, three furloughs and, if the new contract is ratified by April 1, 2010, a six-month no-layoff guarantee.

• April 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2010: 6 percent decrease plus one week unpaid furlough
• Oct. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011: 6 percent decrease continues plus one week unpaid furlough
• Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012: 6 percent decrease continues plus one week unpaid furlough
• Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013: 6 percent decrease continues minus "snap back" of 2.5 percent on Oct. 1, 2012
• Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014: 6 percent decrease continues minus "snap back" of 2.5 percent totaling 5 percent on Oct. 1, 2013
• Oct. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015: 6 percent decrease continues minus "snap back" of 2.5 percent totaling 7.5 percent on Oct. 1, 2014

"Snap backs" are triggered by year-over-year total revenue increases of 2 percent or more.

For advertising sales reps, territories and outside sales commission with no base will increase to $575.

Seniority remains, but the company can exempt up to 20 newsroom employees and five advertising employees from seniority in any layoff.

Retiree medical plan, PPO, JPP pension and retiree life insurance would be eliminated.