St. Louis guild counteroffer: Furloughs and buyouts

The St. Louis Newspaper Guild responded to Lee Enterprise's recent contract offer for St. Louis Post-Dispatch members, which included a 10 percent pay cut and three one-week furloughs by Sept. 30, 2012.

The guild's counteroffer:

• Raises to the base wage for sales people on commission
• Unpaid furloughs in the first two years of the new contract, and the possibility of a furlough in the third year.
• Cash buyouts for eligible guild members who retire during the term of the agreement.

The guild says Lee representatives "characterized our proposal as 'disappointing' and 'unrealistic.'" Negotiations continue Friday.

(Via email)