Pension case victory gives choices to workers

Journal Sentinel Inc. soon will be notifying more than 35 current employees who will be affected by a recent arbitration ruling.

The Milwaukee Newspaper Guild prevailed in an arbitration involving changes that the company made to the pension plan in 2006.

In the spring of that year, the company announced that most employees on the payroll at that time could choose between staying in the existing pension program or shifting to a new plan similar to a 401(k) plan. However, other employees -- non-vested part-timers and all employees hired after May 1, 2006 -- were not given a choice. They were moved into the new plan.

The Guild argued that everyone should have a chance to make the choice. We also argued that the switch represented a change in benefits that should have been negotiated, and that it eliminated some from the existing pension program. The arbitrator agreed.

Now, the company will have to offer the choice between the traditional pension plan and the new plan to those who were not allowed to choose. This will affect 36 current employees in our bargaining unit -- 13 full-time and 23 part-time.

If you have any questions before or after you get more information about the choice, contact Greg Pearson.