Search this site |
|
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA LOCAL 37082
(Representing Composing Employees)
Effective September 22, 2006 through August 15, 2008
Table of Contents
ARTICLE SUBJECT PAGE
1 Recognition -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
2 Jurisdiction -------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
3 Supervisor --------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
4 Wages and Hours ------------------------------------------------------------------
6
5 Overtime ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
6 Shifts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
7 Pensions -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9
8 Insurance ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10
9 Bereavement Leave ----------------------------------------------------------------
12
10 Vacations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12
11 Holidays -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
15
12 Hiring --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16
13 Notice Period for New Equipment -----------------------------------------------
16
14 Priority Rules -----------------------------------------------------------------------
17
15 Management Rights ----------------------------------------------------------------
18
16 Picket Lines -------------------------------------------------------------------------
18
17 Standing Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------
19
18 Miscellaneous -----------------------------------------------------------------------
21
Memoranda of Understanding Includes the following: ------------------------------------------
25
401(k) Savings Plan ------------------------------------------ 26
Substance Abuse Policy ------------------------------------- 27
Shared Jurisdiction Agreement ----------------------------- 35
Supplemental Agreement ------------------------------------ 37
Definition of Competent ------------------------------------- 48
A G R E E M E N T
THIS AGREEMENT, made
and entered into this 22nd day of September, 2006, by and between the
SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY, publisher of The Seattle Times, of Seattle, Washington,
constituting the party of the first part, hereinafter sometimes referred
to as the "Publisher," and PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA,
LOCAL 37082, (Composing Employees) by its officers, or a committee duly
authorized to act in its behalf, party of the second part, hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "Union," shall be effective beginning
September 22, 2006, and ending August 15, 2008.
ARTICLE 1
RECOGNITION
1.1 The Publisher hereby recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining
representative of all employees covered by this Agreement.
1.1.1 The words "employee" and "employees" when used
in this Agreement apply to journey level employees and associates.
1.2 All present employees who are members of the Union on the effective
date of this Agreement shall remain members of the Union in good standing,
in the manner and to the extent required by law, as a condition of continued
employment. All present employees covered by this Agreement who are not
members of the Union, and all such employees who are hired hereafter,
shall on and after the 31st day following the beginning of their employment
or on and after the 31st day following the effective date or execution
date of this Agreement, whichever is the later, become and remain members
of the Union in good standing, in the manner and to the extent required
by law, as a condition of employment.
1.2.1 For the purposes of this Agreement, "good standing" shall
mean tendering to the Union an amount equal to the appropriate dues which
are uniformly required to be paid. The Publisher and the Union agree that
there will be no discrimination in the employment of an individual based
upon his/her Union Membership or lack of Union Membership. New employees
shall be notified in writing of this provision by the Publisher. A copy
of such notification shall be sent to the Union.
1.3 Upon seven (7) days written notice from the Union, the employer shall
discharge any employee who fails to tender the periodic dues and assessments
uniformly required by the Union.
1.3.1 The Publisher shall be held harmless and shall not be liable for
any damages as a result of the provisions of Section 1.3.
1.4 Except as modified by the Supplemental Agreement, all work which is
recognized by this Agreement to be within the jurisdiction of the Union
shall be performed only by employees covered by this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
JURISDICTION
2.1 Jurisdiction of the Union and the appropriate unit for collective
bargaining is defined as including all composing work and includes classifications
such as: Hand compositors, typesetting machine operators, make-up men,
bank men, mark-up men, proof press operators, proofreaders, machinists
for typesetting machines, operators and the machinists on all devices
which compose type, in photographic paper form, or film, operators of
tape perforating machines and recutter units for use in composing or producing
type, operators of all phototypesetting machines (such as Fotosetter,
Photon, Linofilm, Monophoto Coxhead-Liner, Filmotype, Typro, and Hadego)
and employees engaged in paste-makeup with reproduction proofs and employees
processing the product of phototypesetting machines, including development,
waxing, paste-makeup of all type, hand-lettered, illustrative border and
decorative material constituting a part of the copy, ruling, photo-proofing,
correction, alteration, and imposition of the paste-makeup serving as
the completed copy for the camera used in the platemaking process. Paste-makeup
for the camera as used in this paragraph includes all photostats and prints
used in offset or letterpress work and includes all photostats and positive
proofs of illustrations (such as Velox) where positive proofs can be supplied
without sacrifice of quality or duplication of efforts.
2.2 After copy which has been pasted up by employees covered under this
agreement has been processed by the photo-engraving department it shall
be returned to the composing room. The stripping of illustrations, art
work and sigs from pasted up matter, when required, shall be done by employees
covered by this Agreement.
2.2.1 By mutual agreement between the Publisher and the Union original
completed paste-ups may be exchanged between the Publishers signatory
to this Agreement when no other method of transfer of such material is
available. Such paste-ups, when exchanged by the Publishers signatory
to this Agreement, shall be returned to the original Publisher.
2.2.2 It is recognized that a certain small amount of paste-makeup work
is being done by persons not covered by this Agreement from proofs or
type set under the terms of this Agreement as follows:
a) Paste-makeup of matter being used for the promotion of the Publisher's
business.
b) Paste-makeup of matter in preparation of office forms used by the newspapers
party to this Agreement.
c) Paste-makeup of a small volume of advertisements by employees in the
newspaper's advertising promotion department.
d) Paste-makeup work done in the preparation of the Sunday magazine.
2.2.3 It is agreed by the parties hereto that when it is possible without
jeopardizing relations with newspaper customers, such work will be given
to employees under the terms of this Agreement who are competent to perform
such work; provided, no legal or jurisdictional difficulty will be brought
about by either party in the reallocation of this work.
2.2.4 In the event of the extension of the volume of paste-makeup work
or the introduction of a photo-composition process, the paste-makeup work
shall be done by employees under the terms of this Agreement.
2.2.5 The practice of supplying occasional glossy proofs or type, set
under the terms of this agreement, to the art and promotional departments
of the newspapers for integration with art work, and to advertisers for
the making of photographically enlarged, reduced, or screened or reversed
plates to be incorporated by the advertiser in ads to be used in the newspaper
of the Publisher may be continued during the life of this Agreement.
2.2.6 It is agreed by the parties that a joint committee shall be appointed,
three from the Publisher, and three from the Union. Meetings shall be
held at the call of either party to study the amount of material being
sent to advertisers in the form of "glossy" proofs. This committee
shall make a sincere effort to reduce the number of such "glossy"
proofs to a minimum. Deliberations of this committee are to be a conciliation
nature only and unresolved matters shall not be subject to arbitration.
Decisions reached by the committee will be final and binding on both parties.
2.2.7 Except as modified by the Supplemental Agreement, it is agreed that
this Agreement determines the employer's choice as to the granting of
jurisdiction over work processes specified herein.
2.2.8 All corrections must be made by an employee covered by this Agreement,
except as provided in the Supplemental Agreement.
2.3 It is agreed that when a computer is used for composing room work
the Union's jurisdiction includes the preparation of input and all handling
of output, operation of the computer and all input and output devices,
formatting for display and classified ads (except that formatting which
is provided by the manufacturer or lessor as part of the standard services
for the lease or purchase), and maintenance of all the foregoing equipment
and devices (except that maintenance which is provided by the manufacturer
or lessor as part of the standard services for the purchase or lease of
the equipment.)
2.3.1 Formats prepared by employees covered by this Agreement may be edited,
modified or redrawn by experts not covered by this Agreement.
2.3.2 In the event of a temporary, emergency breakdown caused by mechanical
or electrical failure, a "back-up" computer may be used and
the Union agrees such input and output will be processed by employees
covered by this Agreement during the period of such temporary, emergency
breakdown.
ARTICLE 3
SUPERVISOR
3.1 The operation, authority and control of the composing room shall be
vested exclusively in the supervisor, assistant supervisors or acting
supervisors. The Chapel Chair shall be provided the names of all supervisors
and the name(s) of the supervisor or supervisors.
3.1.1 Supervisors (supervisor or assistant supervisors) may perform bargaining
unit work under limited circumstances for demonstration purposes, work
of short duration, emergency work, technical work which cannot be performed
by bargaining unit employees, work related to installation or shakedown
of equipment, or work performed after reasonable efforts to secure qualified
bargaining unit employees have failed (such as during a snow storm). Emergency
work is defined as immediate action required to prevent loss of production
or to protect life, limb, equipment or property or work necessary due
to loss of power or acts of God such as fire or flood.
3.1.2 Supervisors shall exercise their authority in a nondiscriminatory
manner under applicable law and this Agreement.
3.2 Employees shall perform such composing room work as the supervisor
may direct.
3.3 The supervisor shall be the judge of an employee's competency as a
worker, however, the fairness of his judgment shall be subject to review
by the special standing committee.
3.3.1 New employees shall be subject to a probationary period of six (6)
months. Discharges which occur during the probationary period are not
subject to Article 17, Standing Committee.
3.4 The supervisor shall be responsible for:
3.4.1 Discipline and discharge for just cause.
3.4.2 Reducing the work force within the terms of this Agreement.
3.4.3 Making lead person assignments outside the schedule. (Examples include
ad production lead, traffic central lead, trainer and quality assurance
lead.) When doing so, the supervisor will post the job opening so all
interested, qualified employees can be considered.
3.4.4 Approving all schedules and schedule changes, including absence,
paid absence, and the necessity for all replacements, and all overtime.
3.4.5 Directing the work force, administering office rules, adjusting
contract grievances or recommending such action.
3.5 When an employee is discharged for any reason, the employee may demand
and the supervisor shall give in writing the reason for discharge provided
such demand be made within seventy-two (72) hours after the employee is
informed of the discharge.
ARTICLE 4
WAGES AND HOURS
4.1 Eight (8) consecutive hours, exclusive of lunch time, shall constitute
a day shift or a night shift.
4.1.1 The Publisher may also designate four (4) shifts of ten (10) hours
each for some employees, exclusive of a thirty- (30-) minute lunch, if
it is determined that operating needs can best be achieved by such a schedule.
4.1.2 The Publisher, in his or her sole discretion, may accept requests
by current or new full-time employees to work flexible schedules of forty
(40) hours per week divided into six (6) or four (4) days. Once accepted
by the Publisher, such schedules may be terminated by either party upon
thirty (30) days notice.
4.1.3 No journey-level employee shall be employed for less than an eight-
(8-) hour shift (exclusive of lunch time), except when discharged for
just cause or when excused at the employee’s own request, in which
case the employee will be paid for the time worked.
4.1.4. No associate shall be employed for less than a five- (5-) hour
shift except when discharged for just cause or when excused at the employee’s
own request, in which case the employee will be paid for the time worked.
4.2 A day shift shall be construed to mean work done between the hours
of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. A night shift shall be construed to mean work done
between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
4.3 When a shift is scheduled to start and finish between the hours of
6 a.m. and 6 p.m., the day scale of wages shall apply. When a shift is
scheduled to start or finish between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., the
night scale of wages shall apply. In no case shall extended time on a
day shift be construed as making the night rates applicable to work which,
in the absence of the extended work shift, would be at day rates.
4.4 The minimum scale of wages, subject to diversions, at the time of
ratification, for journey level employees are:
Day Night $23.0207 $23.6207
4.5 The minimum scale of wages, subject to diversions at the time of ratification,
for associates shall be as follows: Day Night
First 1,365 compensated hours $13.2519 $13.5269
1,366 - 2,730 compensated hours $14.0734 $14.3734
2,731 - 4,095 compensated hours $15.7465 $16.0965
Thereafter $17.4175 $17.8196
4.6 Employees called back one (1) hour after having completed a shift
or when an employee's starting time is changed with less than twenty-four
(24) hours' notice, said employee shall be paid two dollars ($2.00) in
addition to other compensation received. When an employee is called back
inside one (1) hour, that employee shall be paid overtime until finally
dismissed without deduction for the time away. When the office is required
to make changes in an employee's starting time to cover dark or vacated
shifts the penalty shall be waived.
4.7 Pay days shall be weekly or bi-weekly.
ARTICLE 5
OVERTIME
5.1 Overtime is defined as all hours worked beyond forty (40) in a work
week. For purposes of this section only, hours worked shall include compensated
hours for vacation, jury or bereavement leaves. Daily overtime shall be
paid to employees who work (or are compensated for) all their otherwise
scheduled hours (exclusive of lunch periods) in a work week as follows:
? All work over eight (8) hours per day.
? All work over ten (10) hours per day for employees on a four by ten
(4 x 10) schedule.
? All work on a sixth or seventh shift, except for work on a sixth day
under voluntary six-day schedules under 4.1.2.
? All work beyond the scheduled extended (i.e. over 8 hours) shift length
of an alternative to a five-day situation mutually agreed under Articles
4.1.2 and 6.3.
All overtime shall be paid at time and one-half (1-1/2) the employee's
regular straight-time hourly rate.
5.1.1 Overtime shall be paid for the actual length of time worked as overtime.
5.1.2 As an exception to 5.1, any employee working an extended shift for
the purpose of training, performance reviews, or a crew meeting, shall
be compensated at straight-time for up to one (1) hour in any work day
for a maximum of eight (8) hours of straight-time.
5.2 When overtime is required on a shift, the supervisor, assistant supervisor
or acting supervisor shall notify employees affected a reasonable time
before the end of the employee's shift.
ARTICLE 6
SHIFTS
6.1 Employees who work three (3) or more shifts in a week which qualify
for the night shift rate shall receive the night shift rate for all hours
worked during such week. Employees scheduled exclusively on day shifts
shall be paid the day scale.
6.2 No employee covered by this Agreement shall be required to hold a
situation of more than five days or five nights in one work week.
6.3 Regular situations shall be arranged on a five-day basis. Alternatives
to a five (5) day situation may also be established subject to mutual
agreement. The supervisor shall post any changes to the starting times
and off days of each situation each week.
6.4 The time at which employees shall report for work shall be a part
of all schedules posted by the supervisor.
6.5 A meal period of thirty (30) minutes shall be allowed for each shift,
such meal period not to be included in the number of hours specified for
a day's or night's work. The time for taking lunch shall be designated
by the supervisor. No employee shall be required to go to lunch less than
three (3) hours or more than five (5) hours after the start of the shift,
provided, by mutual agreement between the supervisor and the employee,
individual lunch periods may be scheduled outside of these hours.
ARTICLE 7
PENSIONS
7.1 The Publisher shall contribute monthly to the CWA-ITU Negotiated Pension
Plan (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Plan) the sum of two dollars
and twenty cents ($2.20) per straight-time hour earned for the Publisher's
employees covered by this Agreement for the purpose of providing pension
on retirement, death benefits and other related benefits for covered employees
of the Publisher.
7.1.1 The Publisher shall also contribute monthly to the Plan for each
associate a sum, per hour earned, as set forth below, for hours worked
effective the first of the pay period following ratification.
First 1,365 compensated hours 55% of journey level contribution
1,366-2,730 compensated hours 65% of journey level contribution
2,731-4,095 compensated hours 75% of journey level contribution
Thereafter 85% of journey level contribution
7.2 Contributions shall be made for any hour for which an employee receives
compensation (e.g., vacation, holidays, bereavement leave, jury duty).
The Plan is jointly administered by Trustees appointed in equal numbers
by the Union and the Employers under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
and has been found by Internal Revenue Service to be entitled to exemption
under the Internal Revenue Code.
7.2.1 Contributions shall be made by check, money order, or similarly
recognized medium of exchange and shall be made payable and forwarded
to the CWA Negotiated Pension Plan, 831 S. Nevada Ave., Suite 120, Colorado
Springs, CO 80903, no later than the 20th of the following month, together
with reports on forms to be furnished by the Plan.
7.2.2 Title to all monies paid into the Plan shall be vested, and shall
be held exclusively by the Trustees in trust for use in providing the
Benefits under the Plan and paying its expenses.
7.2.3 The Publisher recognizes that in addition to the Union's right to
enforce this Section, the Union shall have the right in its discretion
to take any legal action necessary to collect any contributions or monies
due and owing to the Plan and to secure delinquent reports. The Publisher
further agrees that the Union shall have the right to collect reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
7.2.4 The Publisher shall supply to the chapel chairperson a copy of either
the union representative's copy of Negotiated Pension Plan remittance
forms or a copy of the Publisher's print-out forms on a monthly basis.
ARTICLE 8
INSURANCE
8.1 The Publisher shall contribute monthly to the CWA-Employer Life and
Disability Fund the sum of one dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) per
regular straight-time shift earned, and pro rata contributions shall be
made on all other straight-time shifts earned. In September 2004, the
contribution to the Life and Disability Fund was increased by the plan
trustees to $1.75 per shift. The additional 50 cents per shift is being
provided by a wage diversion from employees’ hourly wages.
8.1.1 During the term of this Agreement, the bargaining unit may, at its
sole option, choose to elect to initiate Long Term Disability coverage
pursuant to the then-prevailing availability, costs, enrollment periods
and terms of the Publisher’s Long Term Disability Plan. It is understood
that such election shall be uniform for all employees covered by this
labor Agreement and that the cost will be borne by deduction from employees’
wages.
8.2 Medical: Eligible employees under this Agreement shall be entitled
to the same plan(s) of medical and dental benefits as is provided by the
Publisher to its managerial and unaffiliated employees.
8.2.1 During the term of this Agreement, the Publisher shall have the
right, in its discretion, to make plan design changes, change plan carriers,
or make benefit or coverage changes, at the same time and in the same
manner as for managerial and unaffiliated employees. However, before any
substantial change is made in the plans or benefits described by this
Article, the Publisher will meet and confer with the union as to such
changes.
8.2.2 The Publisher and employees will share the costs of the Publisher's
Medical plans, with the Publisher bearing seventy-five percent (75%) of
the premium cost.
8.2.3 The employee portion shall be diverted from the wage schedule. The
employee portion shall be calculated on the following basis.
8.2.4 A composite rate shall be determined by adding together the premium
payments for all active employees covered under Health Plans available
to composing room employees. The total premiums shall be divided by the
number of active employees participating in the Plans (an active employee
is one eligible and enrolled for coverage or self-paying coverage due
to a leave of absence). The result shall be the composite rate for Health,
Medical and Surgical insurance.
8.2.5 The composite rate shall be established during plan renewal each
year, which is currently in September.
8.2.6 The resulting increase shall be shared according to Article 8.2.2.
8.2.7 If premiums decrease, the same calculations shall take place and
the result shall be added to wages, but only to the maximum of prior diversions.
8.3 The Publisher agrees to provide an annual re-opener in order to allow
employees the option of remaining in the Publisher's Health-Medical-Surgical
Plan or transferring to a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) made available
by the Publisher.
8.4 In the event the State or Federal government should enact legislation
requiring The Times to provide Times employees and/or their dependents
a Medical and/or Dental plan which legislation intends to replace the
Medical and/or Dental plan available to employees under this Agreement,
the parties agree The Times will terminate the present plan(s) and any
cost or premium increase or decrease required to provide the mandated
plan will be shared in accordance with Sections 8.2.2 and 8.5 or as mandated.
8.4.1 The Publisher will provide the Union with the opportunity to meet
and confer prior to implementing any Plan revisions brought about by above
mentioned State or Federal legislation.
8.5 Dental Care: The Publisher will pay two-thirds (2/3) of the premium
cost of the Publisher's present Dental Plan. The parties further agree
that any future increases in premiums to maintain that level of benefits
will be paid two-thirds (2/3) by the Publisher and one-third (1/3) by
the employee.
8.6 A new employee must work eighty (80) hours per calendar month for
two (2) consecutive months in order to be eligible for Health-Medical-Surgical
coverage and the Dental plan.
8.6.1 Once eligible, an employee must be compensated for a minimum of
eighty (80) hours from the Publisher during the previous calendar month
to maintain coverage.
8.6.2 If an employee loses eligibility by falling below the qualifying
hours and waives any self pay options that are available by law or as
a result of a medical leave of absence, beyond six months or a personal
leave of absence, the employee must again satisfy the eligibility criteria
specified in Article 8.6.
8.7 Medical Aid Fund: The Employer shall deduct from the pay of each employee
covered by this Agreement, one-half (1/2) of the amount the Employer is
required to pay into the Medical Aid Fund as provided under the Washington
State Industrial Insurance Act.
ARTICLE 9
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
9.1 When an employee who is scheduled to work is absent due to a death
in the immediate family (mother, father, wife, husband, qualified domestic
partner, son, daughter, brother, sister, mother-in-law or father-in-law)
s/he shall be granted three (3) days' leave without loss of pay.
9.2 The employee may begin his/her leave upon notification of the death
or at a later time if the purpose of the delay is to attend the funeral
or memorial services. The time off must be completed within ten (10) calendar
days of the death unless otherwise mutually agreed between the employee
and his or her manager.
ARTICLE 10
VACATIONS
10.1 Employees with
six (6) months but less than two (2) years of continuous service will
accrue one (1) hour of paid vacation for each 20.0 hours compensated,
to a maximum of eighty (80) hours per year, of which vacation accrued
by this formula may be taken after six (6) months of service. Once employees
achieve six months of service, their vacation balance shall be credited
based on this formula from their date of hire. If the new employee terminates
prior to six (6) months, no vacation will be accrued or paid.
10.1.1 Employees with two (2) but less than three (3) years of continuous
service shall accrue one (1) hour of paid vacation for each 17.333 hours
compensated to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) hours per calendar
year.
10.1.2 Employees with three (3) or more years of continuous service shall
accrue one (1) hour of paid vacation for each 13.0 hours compensated to
a maximum of one hundred sixty (160) hours per calendar year.
10.2 An employee's accrual will change, up to the maximum, during the
pay period of the employee's anniversary date of service.
10.3 The vacation rate of pay will be based on the employee's regular
rate of pay at the time of the vacation.
10.4 For the purpose of this section, hours compensated shall mean all
hours worked plus all hours paid but not worked.
10.5 While vacations may be taken as earned, employees may bank up to
two hundred eighty (280) hours of vacation. Once the vacation bank reaches
this maximum, no further vacation will be earned.
10.6 Employees with six (6) months or more of service will receive all
vacation earned to termination on the next regularly scheduled paycheck.
10.6.1 For purposes of calculating vacation accrual, termination shall
occur on the last day actively at work.
10.6.2 For purposes of this Article only, productivity leave shall be
counted as hours compensated.
10.7 The supervisor shall notify the chairperson of the number of individuals
who may be on vacation, or productivity leave for each week in the calendar
year. Such allocation shall be split between the day and night shifts
in the approximate ratio of employees working days or nights.
10.7.1 The regular (summer) vacation period shall be the thirty (30) week
period beginning with the first calendar week of April plus the two holiday
weeks which include Christmas and New Year's holidays. The supervisor's
allocation of vacation weeks shall be distributed as equally as operations
allow over this period. Employees shall be allowed to schedule up to three
(3) consecutive weeks of vacation during this period, however, weeks of
vacation may also be scheduled separately.
10.7.2 Employees entitled to additional weeks of vacation (winter vacation)
shall schedule the additional vacation any time available during the calendar
year.
10.7.3 Employees entitled to one (1) week of productivity leave shall
schedule such leave during any time available during the calendar year.
10.7.4 Summer vacation may be scheduled outside the time period through
the chapel chairperson, subject to agreement by the supervisor, provided
the request is made prior to January 30 of each year.
10.7.5 The supervisor shall examine the schedule as it is being prepared.
Where it can be shown by the supervisor that too many employees doing
the same type of work have scheduled their vacations at the same time,
the lower priority employees shall be rescheduled.
10.8 The selection of vacation shall be by priority as follows:
10.8.1 The chapel chairperson shall schedule the vacations in accordance
with priority.
10.8.2 Each employee may exercise their first choice in one of the following
categories by priority:
a) Summer vacation
b) Winter vacation
c) Productivity leave
10.8.3 After all
employees have exercised first choice, all employees may exercise second
choice followed by their third for the vacation weeks remaining by priority.
10.8.4 When weeks of vacation are taken separately, an employee may exercise
his/her priority on preferred dates only once.
10.9 Employees who transfer between day and night shift at the request
of the office shall carry their vacation selections with them.
10.10 Any employee who does not indicate his choice by February 15 waives
priority claim to choice of vacation dates. The vacation schedule shall
be posted by March 1. No employee shall be required to take a scheduled
vacation unless the dates have been posted not less than thirty (30) days
in advance of the beginning of the vacation time off.
10.11 Pay for vacation shall be at the regular rate of pay which the employee
is receiving at the time he/she starts vacation, including shift differential,
if appropriate.
ARTICLE 11
HOLIDAYS
11.1 The following shall be observed as holidays: New Year's Day, Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and employee's birthday, or
days observed as such.
11.1.1 Except that Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve shall be considered
the holiday in place of Christmas Day and New Year's Day for employees
having evening shifts which start on or after 3 p.m. on December 24th
and December 31st.
11.2 In no case shall an employee be denied a holiday or holiday pay because
of a change of schedule; nor shall any employee receive double holiday
benefits from the same holiday.
11.3 Any employee who has worked a minimum of one hundred and thirty (130)
shifts in the twelve (12) months preceding a holiday, eleven (11) or more
shifts having been worked in the thirty (30) days immediately preceding
a holiday, shall be paid for said holiday at the regular straight-time
daily rate. For purposes of this subsection, vacation scheduled and taken,
and paid bereavement and jury leave shall be considered as shifts worked.
11.4 Employees who are scheduled to work on any holiday and are notified
by the office that they will not be required to work on said holiday shall
be paid the straight-time rate for such regularly scheduled shift.
11.5 Any qualified employee who works on any holiday shall be paid double
the straight-time rate for all such work.
11.6 When a holiday occurs on an employee's off day or within an employee's
scheduled vacation period, said employee shall receive an additional day
off, which shall be paid for at the regular straight-time daily rate;
the day off to be selected by mutual agreement and taken within a thirty
(30) day period. At the option of the Publisher, the employee shall be
paid a day's pay at the regular straight-time daily rate in lieu of such
additional day off, within thirty (30) days of the holiday. If an employee
is required to work on a holiday which falls on the employee's regular
day off, the employee shall receive an additional day off or a day's pay
at the regular straight-time daily rate as provided for above, plus double
the straight-time rate for all such work. There shall be no duplication
of holiday payments on the same working shift.
11.7 An employee shall observe the birthday holiday on the actual birthday
or such other day as is mutually agreed upon between the employee and
the supervisor.
11.8 The supervisor shall determine not later than 10:30 a.m. Thursday,
of any holiday observed on Monday; for any other holiday, not later than
12:00 noon on the third day prior to the holiday, the number of employees
required to work on said holiday. The force shall be selected with due
consideration to priority and qualification to perform the particular
functions needed to be performed on the holiday. Employees may volunteer
provided the employee is qualified to perform the work required. If more
qualified employees volunteer than are required, priority will be considered.
If fewer qualified employees volunteer than are required, employees will
be assigned based on qualifications, but by reverse priority.
ARTICLE 12
HIRING
12.1 The supervisor shall be responsible for all hiring of new employees.
12.2 It is understood that the slipboard is the property of the Union
and that the chapel chairperson shall be responsible for its operation.
12.3 The Publisher is an equal opportunity employer. There shall be no
discrimination in employment practices in violation of any applicable
city, county, state or federal law.
ARTICLE 13
NOTICE PERIOD FOR NEW EQUIPMENT
13.1 When new technology, equipment, systems or processes are assigned
by the Publisher which affect employees covered by this Agreement, the
Publisher will notify the Union promptly upon the decision to introduce
and assign technology or the date of lease or purchase from the vendor
but in no instance shall the notice be less than thirty (30) days before
the intended date of operation. The notice period is intended to provide
an opportunity for employees to train for such operation, if such training
is necessary.
ARTICLE 14
PRIORITY RULES
14.1 The priority date for new employees shall be the date of first shift
worked.
14.1.1 All new employees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period
which shall be the first six (6) months of employment. Terminations that
may occur during the probationary period are not subject to review under
Article 17 of this Agreement.
14.1.2 Once established, an employee can lose priority standing and thereby
be terminated only by voluntary quit, discharge for just cause, retirement,
permanent disability (as determined by treating physician), death, failure
to return from approved leave of absence, failure to return from layoff
upon recall within the time limits of Article 14.2.2, or failure to return
from a medical leave of absence for off the job injury or illness, up
to a maximum of six (6) consecutive months, or failure to return from
a medical leave of absence due to an on-the-job injury up to a maximum
period of nine (9) months, provided however, such maximum periods may
be extended up to an additional three (3) months when, during the original
leave, an employee is able to provide a statement from the treating physician
declaring the employee will be released to work within the additional
three (3) month period.
14.2 Layoffs to reduce the force will be based on priority within the
area(s) of work in which an employee is deemed competent. A senior employee
will not be laid off ahead of a junior employee so long as the senior
employee is competent in the area of work affected by the layoff.
14.2.1 No employee will be laid off to reduce the force while an employee
of lesser priority remains on a situation if the senior employee has not
been given an opportunity to train and provided a reasonable time to become
competent in the area of work affected.
14.2.2 An employee laid off to reduce the force shall be entitled to preferential
recall for a period of one (1) year and he or she shall be re-employed
to work he/she is competent to perform in order of priority standing.
14.3 Qualified employees may exercise their priority to claim new shifts,
new starting times and new days off insofar as practicable. In order to
be subject to priority claim, such new shifts, new starting times or days
off must be scheduled on a regular ongoing basis exceeding two (2) weeks.
Priority claims under this Article shall be limited to individuals accessing
newly created or changed schedules, or schedules vacated as a result,
and to claims by any individuals directly affected by such claim, including
any individual displaced from a changed schedule and any individual displaced,
in turn, by those displaced.
14.3.1 During the initial two hundred and sixty (260) work shifts, associates
may be assigned work shifts and work assignments by the supervisor as
an exception to normal priority procedures. Such assignments shall be
for the purpose of insuring the associates the opportunity to train in
various job responsibilities and areas.
14.4 In no case shall a supervisor transfer a person to an unfamiliar
area of work and then declare the employee incompetent. It is understood,
however, that when an employee declares him/herself competent for an area
of work, the supervisor shall be the judge of such competency after the
employee has been given a fair and reasonable test.
14.5 The priority board shall be opened for general claim the first full
week of January, April, July, and October of each year.
ARTICLE 15
MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
15.1 All management functions or prerogatives allowed by State or Federal
laws which the Publisher has not modified or restricted by a specific
provision of this Agreement are retained and vested exclusively in the
Publisher.
ARTICLE 16
PICKET LINES
16.1 During the life of this Agreement or any written extension hereof,
the Union, on behalf of its officers, agents, stewards and members, agrees
that so long as this Agreement or any written extension hereof is in effect,
there shall be no strikes of whatsoever kind or nature (economic, sympathetic,
unfair labor practice, or otherwise), slowdowns, walkouts, sit-downs,
picketing, boycotts or any activities which interfere, directly or indirectly
with the Publisher's operations. Nor shall there be any lockouts by the
Publisher.
16.2 In the event any picket line is established by any labor organization
at the Publisher's premises or places of business covered by this Agreement
(whether in furtherance of a dispute or controversy with the Publisher,
its parent; subsidiary or affiliated companies elsewhere in the State
or country, or with a contractor or customer of the Publisher herein,
or otherwise), employees covered by this Agreement continue to perform
their regular and customary services at their normal work locations. Provided,
however, that it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for members
of the bargaining unit to honor or observe a proper primary picket line
established by the Guild unit of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild/CWA
Local 37082.
16.3 It is further agreed that in cases of unauthorized strike, walkout
or other cessation of work, the Union, its officers, employees and stewards
shall make every reasonable effort to instruct employees participating
in any such unauthorized action to return to work.
16.4 Any claim, action, or suit for damages or injunctive relief, which
is commenced by the Publisher as a result of the Union's violation of
this Article, shall not be subject to the Grievance and Arbitration provisions
of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 17
STANDING COMMITTEE
17.1 Immediately after this Agreement becomes effective a special standing
committee of four (4) members shall be selected, two (2) members of said
committee to be named by the Publisher, and two (2) members by the Union.
Immediately after the members of the special standing committee have been
named, the Publisher shall send the names and addresses of its representatives
on the special standing committee to the Union, and the Union shall send
the names and addresses of its representatives on the special standing
committee to the Publisher. In case of a vacancy on said special standing
committee from any cause, said vacancy shall be filled immediately by
the selection of a new member by the party in whose representation on
the special standing committee the vacancy occurs. Each party shall notify
the other party immediately of any change in its representation on the
special standing committee. If at any time either party desires that one
of its representatives on the special standing committee shall appear
in the capacity of advocate before the committee provided for in this
section, said representative shall resign from the committee and a new
representative shall be selected in the manner hereinbefore provided.
Members of the special standing committee may be represented by proxies.
17.2 Any dispute as to the meaning, compliance with or interpretation
of, or application of any specific provision of this Agreement, which
arises under and during the term of this Agreement which cannot be settled
otherwise, and all disputes regarding discharged employees who satisfied
the probationary period, will be referred to the special standing committee.
The special standing committee must meet within five (5) days from the
date on which either party hereto, through its authorized representative,
notified the other party in writing that a meeting is desired, setting
forth briefly the specific question to be presented, and shall proceed
forthwith to attempt to settle any question raised by either party in
the written notification. It is definitely understood and agreed that
the special standing committee must meet within the five (5) days prescribed
herein upon notification in the manner herein provided. It is understood
and agreed that the special standing committee is established by the terms
of this Agreement for the settlement of the disputes hereinbefore enumerated,
and that the special standing committee is the proper body to take up
such disputes and to settle them in the manner herein provided.
17.3 The special standing committee shall have complete jurisdiction over
all the aforesaid disputes as provided herein. The special standing committee
shall have no jurisdiction over the settlement of any new Agreement relating
to wages, hours, and working conditions.
17.4 The special standing committee shall have complete power to reinstate
a discharged employee or to confirm the discharge, and either the order
of reinstatement or the order confirming a discharge shall be final and
binding on the parties hereto. If a discharged employee is reinstated
by the special standing committee the employee may be paid for actual
time lost.
17.5 In discharge cases notice of intention to appeal to the special standing
committee must be given directly to the special standing committee by
the discharged employee through the executive committee of the Union within
ten (10) days from the date of discharge or the right to appeal shall
be lost.
17.5.1 In other matters, notice of intention to appeal to the standing
committee must be given directly to the standing committee by the employee(s)
affected through the executive committee of the Union within thirty (30)
days of the event which gave rise to the dispute.
17.6 The supervisor shall not be required to reinstate a discharged employee
unless and until ordered to do so by the special standing committee.
17.7 It shall require the affirmative votes of at least three (3) of the
four (4) members of the special standing committee to decide the issues,
and the decision of the special standing committee in all cases shall
be final and such decision shall be binding on the parties hereto.
17.8 If the special standing committee cannot reach an agreement on any
dispute within ten (10) days (this time may be extended by unanimous agreement)
from the date on which a dispute is first considered by it, at the request
of either party hereto, the members of the special standing committee
shall form a committee of four and shall select a fifth member who shall
be a disinterested party and who shall act as chair of the committee.
Said fifth member may be selected in any manner agreed upon by three of
the four members of the committee. Should this committee of four be unable
to agree upon a fifth member within five (5) days, the fifth member shall
be selected in the following manner: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service shall be jointly requested by the parties to name a panel of nine
(9) arbitrators. The parties shall then choose the arbitrator by alternately
striking a name from the list until one name remains as the arbitrator
chosen by the parties. The five-person committee thus formed shall proceed
with all dispatch possible to settle the dispute. 17.9 It shall require
the affirmative votes of at least three (3) of the five (5) members of
the committee to decide the issues and any decision thus rendered shall
be final and binding on the parties hereto.
17.10 All expenses of the arbitrator and hearing room shall be shared
equally by the Publisher and the Union.
17.11 Both parties agree that they will abide by all provisions of this
section, and will not request or accept release from their commitment
to arbitrate any dispute which may properly be settled by the standing
committee.
17.12 If an award of the special standing committee or the arbitrator
requires restoration of lost wages and benefits, the employee’s
contribution to the 401(k) plan shall be deducted from the check representing
the lost wages and distributed to the 401(k) plan at that time. The distribution
shall be in the amount and directed to the funds as directed by the employee
at time of reinstatement.
ARTICLE 18
MISCELLANEOUS
18.1 In the event that an employee is called to military or other service
by the U.S.A., such employee shall be granted a leave of absence in accordance
to the prevailing Federal law in effect at the time of leave.
18.2 Any employee absent from his or her employment to serve on a jury
shall be paid his or her regular wages minus any pay received for such
service. The absence shall be supported by a statement signed by the clerk
of the court certifying as to each day of jury duty.
18.3 Officials of the Union, for the performance of official duties, shall
be permitted to enter the composing room of the Publisher at any time
during working hours, after notifying and securing appropriate security
pass from the Labor Relations Department.
18.4 No chairperson or acting chairperson shall be subject to the disciplinary
measures or discharge while performing the duties of that office detailed
in this Section. These functions consist of the operation of the chapel
slipboard, dues collection, providing assistance in the administration
of vacation selection process and representational duties in disciplinary
interviews as specifically authorized by the National Labor Relations
Act.
18.4.1 Additional union duties of the Chapel Chair shall only take place
during normal working hours pursuant to procedures and conditions agreed
to from time to time by the Supervisor.
18.5 Chapel meetings on office time shall be allowed, by arrangement with
the supervisor, provided time lost in attendance is made up; provided,
further, no chapel meeting shall be held which, in the opinion of the
supervisor, would interfere with edition times.
18.6 The Publisher agrees to furnish a clean, sufficiently ventilated,
properly heated and well-lighted composing room, adequate and separate
lunchroom and washroom facilities.
18.7 The Publisher will provide necessary new type of electronic equipment
required to maintain electronic devices installed in the composing room.
18.8 It is understood that whenever in this Agreement employees or jobs
are referred to in the masculine gender it will be recognized as pertaining
to both male and female employees.
18.9 Employees not on the job security list shall retire on the first
of the month following the youngest permissible age under the applicable
laws governing mandatory retirement.
18.10 It is mutually agreed that this Agreement covers all matters affecting
wages, hours and conditions of employment and that during the term of
this Agreement neither party will be required to negotiate except as may
be provided herein on any further matters affecting these or any other
subjects not specifically set forth in this Agreement. It is further mutually
agreed that all issues raised by either or both parties for the purpose
of negotiating this Agreement have been negotiated and disposed of by
the signing of this Agreement.
18.11 The failure of the Union or the Publisher to enforce any of the
provisions of this Agreement or exercise any rights granted by law shall
not be deemed a waiver of such right or a waiver of its authority to enforce
such provision.
18.12 No provision or terms of this Agreement may be amended, modified,
changed, altered or waived except by a written document executed by the
parties hereto.
18.13 This Agreement may be opened in whole or in part by either party
giving the other party sixty (60) days' written notice prior to the 15th
day of August, 2008, and presenting the changes desired. Should the parties
to this Agreement fail to reach an agreement on said changes prior to
August 15, 2008, this Agreement shall then become null and void. (This
time may be extended by mutual consent.)
18.14 The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain in effect
during the period of negotiations for a new Agreement. Either the Publisher
or the PNNG/CWA (Composing Employees) may terminate this Agreement by
giving forty-five (45) days written notice to the other party of its intent
to terminate the Agreement. At the expiration of said forty-five (45)
days, this Agreement and all terms and conditions of this Agreement shall
terminate.
18.15 It is agreed that the only parties to this Agreement are the Seattle
Times Company, publisher of The Seattle Times of Seattle, Washington,
constituting the party of the first part, hereinbefore sometimes referred
to as the Publisher, and Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local
37082, (Composing Employees) by its officers or a committee duly authorized
to act in its behalf, party of the second part.
In Witness Whereof,
we have hereunto set our hands and seals this __________day of ________________________________.
THE SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY PNNG/CWA LOCAL 37082
(Composing Employees)
By _____________________________
By ____________________________
By _____________________________
By ____________________________
By _____________________________
By ____________________________
By ____________________________
By _____________________________
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING
between
SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY
and
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA, LOCAL 37082
(Representing Composing
Employees)
September 22, 2006
through August 15, 2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The parties agree
to the attached Memoranda of Understanding designated by subject and page
number below and expiring with the collective bargaining agreement, with
the exception of the Supplemental Agreement containing job guarantees
and the Shared Jurisdiction Agreement.
Page
401(k) Savings Plan 26
Substance Abuse Policy 27
Shared Jurisdiction Agreement 35
Supplemental Agreement 37
Definition of Competence 48
THE SEATTLE TIMES
COMPANY PNNG/CWA LOCAL 37082
(Composing Employees)
By _____________________________
By _____________________________
Date ____________________________
Date ____________________________
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
between
THE SEATTLE TIMES
and
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA, LOCAL 37082
(Representing Composing
Employees)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The Seattle Times
proposes to make available to eligible employees represented by the undersigned
union a qualified voluntary 401(k) savings program subject to the following
understandings:
The Seattle Times
401(k) savings plan shall be administered solely by The Seattle Times;
however, The Seattle Times' intention is to provide a plan which is as
parallel as possible to The Seattle Times 401(k) plan for unaffiliated
employees. At this time the only planned differences between the two plans
are there will be no company matching contribution in the affiliated 401(k)
plan.
The 401(k) savings
plan for affiliated employees is expected to be available indefinitely;
however, The Times reserves the right to terminate the plan. Events which
would lead to such termination are unforeseen; however, examples of such
events would include: the plan may not be considered "qualified"
by the Internal Revenue Service and/or the United States Department of
Labor; legislation may change which challenges the viability or liability
of the plan; employee participation is too low to justify continuation
of the plan; or legislation allows the adoption of a more meaningful but
separate plan.
The Times will conduct
voluntary seminars for employees interested in participating in this plan
so they can make an informed choice to participate or not.
The Times also commits
to advise the undersigned union of any changes in the design or administration
of the savings plan in advance of such changes.
THE SEATTLE TIMES
COMPANY PNNG/CWA LOCAL 37082
(Composing Employees)
By _____________________________
By _____________________________
Date ____________________________
Date ____________________________
ADDENDUM
to the
A G R E E M E N T
by and between
SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY
and
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA, LOCAL 37082
(Representing Composing
Employees)
September 22, 2006
through August 15, 2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THIS ADDENDUM is supplemental
to the AGREEMENT by and between the SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY, hereinafter
referred to as the Employer, and PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA,
LOCAL 37082, hereinafter referred to as the Union.
EMPLOYER'S SUBSTANCE
ABUSE POLICY
The Employer is committed
to providing its employees with a safe, healthful and productive work
environment and believes maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work place
is essential to that objective. The Employer seeks to minimize safety
related on-the-job accidents by employees and visitors through a company-wide
substance abuse policy. This means that employees on the premises of any
Employer facility or operating equipment owned or leased by or in the
employment of the Employer regardless of location are expected to be free
of any mood-altering substance, whether legal or illegal, that can negatively
affect job performance or risk the health and safety of employees or the
general community. It is the firm position of the Employer that alcoholic
beverages or other drugs are not to be brought on the Employer's property
nor consumed there at any time, except as prescribed in writing by a licensed
physician. Employees taking prescribed medications must report safety
restrictions on which they have been instructed by their physician or
pharmacist and which might affect their safe performance of job duties.
For purposes of this policy, employees are not required to reveal to their
manager the name of the medication nor the medical condition for which
they are being treated. The sale, purchase, transfer, use or possession
of alcoholic beverages or drugs on the Employer's property is prohibited.
Violators shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including
discharge and appropriate law enforcement officials will be notified when
deemed appropriate by the Employer. The Employer supports providing assistance
to individuals with substance abuse problems and has an Employee Assistance
Program to help do so. However, employees who fail the standards of this
program while at work risk termination. Any employee who is determined
to have submitted an adulterated or substituted sample or has otherwise
attempted to affect the outcome of testing under this policy will be subject
to termination notwithstanding the employee assistance otherwise available
to cooperating first-time offenders. It is the intent of this policy to
encourage and support employee recovery from substance abuse through the
Employee Assistance Program and the Employer will vigorously pursue the
purpose of this policy.
ARTICLE 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE
GUIDELINES
1.1 A drug shall be
defined as any substance which may impair mental or motor function, including
but not limited to, illegal drugs, controlled substances, designer drugs,
synthetic drugs and look-alike drugs. Alcohol shall be defined as any
beverage containing alcohol.
1.2 The use of drugs
which are lawfully obtained and properly used shall be permitted provided
their use does not interfere with the individual's proper and safe work
performance.
1.3 The Employer shall
be responsible for all costs incurred for testing done at its request.
1.4 The Employer shall
provide training of no less than two (2) hours duration for its supervisors
in problems of substance abuse and in recognizing impairment and conditions
indicating potential substance abuse, and interpretation of this program.
ARTICLE 2 - CONDITIONS
FOR TESTING
2.1 Probable suspicion
shall mean suspicion based upon specific personal observations that an
Employer representative can describe concerning the appearance, behavior,
speech, or breath odor of the employee. Probable suspicion shall be documented
at or near the time of observation. Normally, observation shall be by
two (2) supervisors trained in the detection of probable drug/alcohol
use. If observation by two (2) supervisors is not feasible, observation
shall be by two (2) individuals, one of whom is a supervisor trained in
the detection of probable drug/alcohol use by observing behavior. Being
involved in a job related or vehicular accident during work hours may
be considered, along with the circumstance of the accident, adequate to
establish probable suspicion. Job or vehicular accidents and/or safety
violations cited by State, County or City enforcement agencies need not
require observation of behavior by anyone. However, a supervisor shall
complete a "Reason For Testing" form prior to concluding that
probable suspicion exists. Probable suspicion shall subject the affected
employee to testing as provided for within this ADDENDUM.
2.2 An employee consenting
to the testing shall be required to provide urine and breath samples on-site
or shall be transported to the specimen collection/test site at the cost
of the Employer. After the specimen is collected, and unless an immediate
negative result is determined, the employee shall be transported to his
residence.
2.3 In the event the
test results are negative, the employee shall be immediately reinstated
to his previous position, with full back pay based upon his regular straight-time
work schedule and no further action shall be taken regarding this substance
abuse program.
2.4 In the event the
test results are positive, the employee shall not be permitted to return
to work until the employee has been evaluated by an Employer-approved
Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) or by an evaluator designated by the
EAP. If the evaluation recommends treatment that prevents the employee
from working, the employee shall be suspended without pay until the treatment
no longer prevents the employee from working. Subsequent reinstatement
shall be without loss of seniority. Any employee testing positive shall
be permitted to return to work only if the employee signs the "Agreement
For Continuation Of Employment", a copy of which is attached hereto
for reference.
2.5 Under no circumstance
shall the Employer or the Union be provided any information beyond the
identification of a negative or positive outcome of any testing conducted,
unless a grievance is filed, in which case all relevant information regarding
the test results, testing methods and chain of custody shall be provided
to both the Union and the Employer.
2.6 The rehabilitation
provisions of this Agreement shall only apply to an employee on one (1)
occasion. Positive drug/alcohol tests thereafter may result in immediate
termination.
ARTICLE 3 - CONSENT
AND TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES
3.1 The Employer shall
inform the employee that he has been observed in accordance with the procedures
set forth within Article 2, Section 2.1 of this ADDENDUM and he appears
to meet standards of probable suspicion and will be required to submit
to a drug/alcohol test or that circumstances related to a job or vehicular
accident in which he was involved requires that he submit to a drug/alcohol
test.
3.2 The Employer shall
give the employee a copy of the initial “Reasons for Testing Form”
prepared pursuant to Article 2, Section 2.1 of this ADDENDUM. The Employer
shall explain that because there exists probable suspicion of the type
of incident cited in Section 2.1, it will be necessary to verify the employee's
physical capability at that point in time.
3.3 In each and every
case, the Employer shall read the "Consent Form" to the employee
prior to obtaining the employee's signature authorizing the test and release
of positive or negative test results. No changes shall be made on the
"Consent Form". When applicable, both of the observing witnesses
shall complete the "Reason For Testing" form. The Union representative
shall not be required to complete the form. In completing the "Reason
For Testing" form, the witnesses shall be as accurate and detailed
as possible, recording their observations of the employee's behavior which
led them to their decision to require an examination/test. The witnesses
shall state what they actually observed, but refrain from making statements
about possible cause of the behavior or making judgmental conclusions.
If the employee refuses promptly to take the examination/test or sign
a "Consent Form", the Employer shall:
- Make it clear to
the employee that the request to sign the form and take the examination/test
is a direct order.
- Ask the employee
if he understands the order. If the employee responds that he does not
understand the order, the supervisor shall explain the order again.
- Explain to the
employee that failure to comply with the order constitutes insubordination
which will result in termination.
- Issue a second
direct order to sign the form and take the examination/test.
- If the employee
refuses, inform the employee that he will be terminated.
3.4 The Employer shall
arrange for on-site collection or if not available, for transportation
and may accompany the employee to the specimen collection/test site. The
Employer representative shall use his best efforts to notify the Union
that the employee is being required to provide urine and breath samples,
and shall conduct or transport the employee to the specimen collection/test
site. If the employee requests the presence of a Union representative
at the time of the testing or at the time of the request of testing, testing
shall be delayed for no more than one hour in order to permit a Union
representative to reach the location. A photo identification may be required
to assure identity of the tested employee. If no photo identification
is available, a supervisor of the Employer will identify the employee.
At the conclusion of the specimen collection the Publisher shall transport
the employee in accordance with the procedures set forth within Article
2, Section 2.2 of this ADDENDUM.
ARTICLE 4 - TESTING
PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
4.1 The Employer shall
select a laboratory approved by the National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Testing shall follow the NIDA mandated drug testing control and custody
procedures for testing and chain of custody. The Employer and the laboratory
shall provide quality control procedures and shall assure the maximum
in privacy and confidentiality.
4.2 In the event of
a positive test result, the employee may within forty eight (48) hours
(weekends excepted) request a sample of his test specimen from the medical
facility for the purpose of retesting at a NIDA approved drug/alcohol
testing laboratory. The chain of custody for this sample shall be maintained
between the original testing laboratory and the employee's NIDA Certified
Laboratory. Retesting shall be performed at the employee's expense. In
the event of conflicting results, the Employer may require a third test.
Should the results of this third test be positive, the employee shall
be subject to the procedures set forth within Article 2, Section 2.4 of
this ADDENDUM. In the event of negative test results on the retest, the
Employer shall pay for the retests and any lost wages as provided for
pursuant to Article 2, Section 2.3 of this ADDENDUM.
4.3 The Union shall
have the right to use the grievance/arbitration procedure to challenge
deviations from the testing procedures provided herein.
4.4 The Employer reserves
the right to require additional safeguards that serve the best interest
of the employee or the Employer's Substance Abuse Program, subject to
the mutual agreement of the Union.
ARTICLE 5 - HOLD HARMLESS
5.1 The Employer shall
indemnify and hold the Union harmless against any and all claims, demands,
suits or liabilities that may arise out of the Employer's application
of the Substance Abuse Program.
ARTICLE 6 - ANNUAL
REVIEW
6.1 This Substance
Abuse Program shall be subject to annual review. The Union shall be given
an opportunity to meet and confer regarding any change in the program.
ARTICLE 7 - PROHIBITED
SUBSTANCES
7.1 The Employer may
elect to test for any/all of the following substances. Except as indicated
below, the threshold level for positive test results shall be those adopted
by the National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the time of the test.
Amphetamine Phencyclidine
Barbiturate Methaqualone
Cocaine Propoxyphene
Marijuana Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Opiates Monoacetyl Morphine
Benzodiazepine .05 alcohol urine levels or breath alcohol levels
Methadone
AGREEMENT FOR CONTINUATION
OF EMPLOYMENT FORM
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY,
hereinafter referred to as the Employer, and PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER
GUILD/CWA, LOCAL 37082, (Composing Employees) hereinafter referred to
as the Union, and __________________________________, hereinafter referred
to as the Employee. The Employer is committed to providing channels of
assistance for employees seeking rehabilitation. However, the Employee
seeking rehabilitation must be committed in his efforts to remain drug
and alcohol free. Therefore, as part of the Employee's commitment to remain
free of drug and alcohol use, it is understood that the Employee's continuation
of employment by the Employer is based upon and constrained by the following
terms:
1. The Employee must
submit to evaluation of potential drug or alcohol problems by a recognized
and certified evaluation professional selected from the attached list
or agreed to by the Union and the Employer or "the Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) provider or the EAP's designee". This evaluation should
be completed within one week from the signature date of this document.
2. The Employee must
agree to participate in all rehabilitation treatment recommended by the
counselor performing the evaluation.
3. The Employee must
authorize their counselors to provide a copy of the rehabilitation treatment
recommendations and regular progress notes regarding the Employee's treatment
program to the Employer.
4. The rehabilitation
facility shall agree to closely monitor the Employee's attendance at all
required sessions. The rehabilitation facility shall notify the Employer
of the Employee's failure to satisfactorily attend treatment sessions.
Failure of the Employee to adhere to the program for treatment shall subject
the Employee to disciplinary action by the Employer, up to and including
discharge.
5. The Employee,
the Employer and the Union mutually agree that the Employee's continuation
of employment for the next nine (9) months or during the term of any recommended
treatment, should it extend beyond nine (9) months shall be contingent
upon his satisfactorily meeting all of the terms outlined in this Agreement,
and that failure to do so may subject the Employee to immediate termination
of employment with the Employer.
6. In the event the
Employee is absent from work due to health reasons during the next nine
(9) months or such period of rehabilitation treatment as outlined by the
counselor if the period extends beyond nine (9) months then he must promptly
submit a written doctor's certificate explaining the reason for such absence.
The Employer may take disciplinary measures up to and including discharge
if the absence is a result of or related to the use of drugs or alcohol.
7. During the nine
(9) month period or such period of rehabilitation treatment as outlined
by the evaluation counselor should it be longer, the Employer may test
the Employee for alcohol and drug use on a random basis. Such random test
shall not exceed four (4) such random tests during this period. However,
such random tests shall be recognized as being in addition to any tests
that may be necessitated on a for cause basis as defined in the Employer's
Substance Abuse Program or any such random tests performed by the treatment
center as part of their program to monitor compliance with their treatment
program. The Employee shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and
including discharge if he refuses to submit to testing or if the Employee
tests positive for drugs or alcohol during this time period. The Employee
must authorize the treatment center to release results of all testing
to the Employer.
8. If the Employee
successfully completes treatment and has no positive drug/alcohol tests
within nine (9) months, the initial positive test shall not be used in
any future discipline or personnel action unless it relates to substance
abuse.
At the Employer's
discretion, in lieu of discipline and/or termination, the Employee understands
that if he does not meet the terms of this condition as hereinbefore set
forth, the Employer may require the Employee to submit to in-patient care
for rehabilitation and to agree to a renewal of this Agreement for an
additional twelve (12) month period thereafter.
This Agreement is
voluntarily entered into by all parties and in consideration for continuation
of employment, the above conditions are hereby agreed to.
Dated this __________
day of__________________________, ____.
SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY EMPLOYEE
By _______________________
By ___________________________
DRUG/ALCOHOL SCREEN PERFORMANCE CONSENT FORM
Employee Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Employer Representative
Requesting Exam: _______________________________________________________________________
Name of Employer Representative
Accompanying Employee _________________________________________________________________
Medical Consent - I consent to the collection of urine and/or breath samples
by the hospital/laboratory staff as requested by the Employer and to determine
the presence of drugs/alcohol, if any.
Authorization to Release
Information - I authorize the hospital/laboratory to release the results
only to the Employer's designated representative. I authorize the Employer's
designated representative to release a statement that the test result
is positive or negative to only the Employer, attention: _____________(Insert
Name) _____ ____________________
I understand that
a positive test result on these tests may be grounds for termination,
subject to the terms of the Employer's Substance Abuse Policy.
____________________________________
______________________________________
Employee's Name (signature) Date
____________________________________
______________________________________
Employer Representative (signature) Date
____________________________________
Employer Representative (print name)
REASONS FOR TESTING REPORT FORM
When requesting a Performance Impairment Exam, the Employer Representative
must complete this form and attach it to the "Drug/Alcohol Screen
Performance Consent Form." Please describe the behavior or reported
behavior that causes you to suspect ________________________________________________________
is impaired.
Speech:_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dexterity:
Standing/
Walking ________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Judgment/
Decision Making _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Appearance:
(Eyes, Clothing etc.) _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Non-Observed
Incident _______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Supervisor:_________________________________________
Witness:___________________________________________
Date:______________________________________________
SHARED JURISDICTION AGREEMENT
between
THE SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY
and
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWSPAPER GUILD/CWA, LOCAL 37082
(Representing Composing Employees)
Effective Date of
Ratification to, and including, May 31, 2009
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into by and between the Seattle Times
Company, hereinafter referred to as the Publisher, Pacific Northwest Newspaper
Guild/CWA Local 37082, (Composing Employees) hereinafter referred to as
the Union(s). It shall apply solely to electronic composition of display
advertising of the Company.
WITNESSETH: All parties
to this Agreement mutually agree that their object is for the good and
welfare of the Publisher and employees alike and in the interest of collective
bargaining and the promotion of customer satisfaction.
ALL PARTIES to this
Agreement recognize the need to implement the changes negotiated herein
in light of constantly changing technology and the blurring of traditional
lines of work jurisdiction. The combination of these technological changes
with The Seattle Times' focus on better, more flexible customer services
has resulted in changes in the Agreements with each Union that support
the direction which The Seattle Times is moving. The purpose is not to
undermine the Union's role, but instead to move forward and provide meaningful
work opportunities for present and future members of the Union(s).
1. RECOGNITION: Composing
Employees and Guild, or their successor union(s), will continue as exclusive
representatives for the respective employees each Union currently represents.
2. SCOPE: Any matter
not specifically covered herein shall be governed by either the Composing
Room or the Guild collective bargaining agreement.
3. JURISDICTION:
The Unions will share jurisdiction over electronic composition of all
display advertising covered by their respective collective bargaining
agreements. Neither Union will dispute the assignment of work to employees
represented by the other in the creation and make-up, modification or
correction of display ads. The Publisher agrees that all work to be assigned
to and performed by employees covered by this Shared Jurisdiction Agreement
will not be assigned to and performed by other employees of the Publisher.
4. FUTURE EMPLOYMENT:
Effective date of this Agreement it is intended that future work assignments
will keep the size relationship relatively in balance between the employees
in the composing room and employees in the creative services who perform
the work covered by this Shared Work Agreement.
Staffing modifications
which will result in a change in the size relationship between the employee
groups will be brought to the Joint Operating Committee for discussion
and resolution which will take into consideration skills necessary to
meet customer needs. Vacancies that occur by attrition can be filled without
discussion.
If the Committee
is unable to reach a decision, the Publisher will decide.
5. JOB SECURITY:
No present employee of the Company shall suffer loss of employment, benefits
or working conditions solely as a result of this Agreement.
6. JOINT OPERATING
COMMITTEE: There shall be established a Joint Operating Committee composed
of two (2) representatives of each party to this Agreement selected in
such manner as each party determines. This Committee shall address such
problems that may arise from this Agreement. Furthermore, this Committee
shall have the authority to make changes in this Shared Jurisdiction Agreement
during its term, subject to approval by all parties to this Agreement.
7. TRAINING: Any
employee asked to perform new work as required by this Agreement, which
requires training due to new technology or processes, will be provided
ample training to acquire skills necessary to perform such work. Such
necessary training shall be included within the employees scheduled working
hours.
Unless the training
is routine in nature and minor in duration, the objectives, design components
and expected results will be first discussed with the Joint Operating
Committee.
8. DISPUTE RESOLUTION:
Each party may file a grievance based on their respective collective bargaining
agreement. Said grievance shall go to the representatives on the Joint
Operating Committee for discussion and, if possible, a decision. If the
Joint Operating Committee is unable to resolve the issue the matter shall
be referred to the Special Standing Committee provisions of the Union
filing the grievance. Should the dispute go to arbitration the Union not
filing the grievance shall be an interested party in the arbitration and
the arbitrator rendering the decision shall apply the decision to all
parties. No party shall have the right to overrule the party filing the
grievance.
THE TERM of this Agreement
shall be from the date of ratification by the members of both Pacific
Northwest Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 37082, Composing employees and Guild
employees whichever comes later, until and including May 31, 2009.
THE SEATTLE TIMES
PNNG/CWA #37082 (Composing) PNNG/CWA #37082 (Guild)
_________________________
_________________________ _________________________
Dated ____________________
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT
This Supplemental Agreement, made and entered into this 21st day of October,
1974, amended the 21st day of February, 1988, and further amended this
9th day of January, 2001, by and between the Seattle Times Company, hereinafter
referred to as the "Publisher," and Pacific Northwest Newspaper
Guild/CWA, Local 37082, (Composing Employees) hereinafter referred to
as the "Union," shall be attached to that certain Collective
Bargaining Agreement between the Seattle Times Company and Pacific Northwest
Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 37082, (Composing Employees) dated September
22, 2006.
The Publisher agrees:
WORK ARRANGEMENT
1. Operations of scanners when this equipment is performing Composing
Room work within the jurisdiction of the Union.
(a) Classified Ads
Single column classified ads prepared scanner ready without borders, cuts
or illustrations, will be accepted and processed in the Composing Room.
All other single or multi-column classified ads, including corrections
and alterations, will be keyboarded and processed by Composing Room employees
covered by this agreement. The number of columns, the use of borders,
signs, emblems, logos, signatures and/or reverses, which can be produced
on a photocomposition machine by simple instruction code, shall not convert
a classified ad into a classified display ad.
(b) Display Ads Including Classified Display
All Display advertising copy, including classified display, will be typed
and prepared for the scanner by Composing Room employees.
(c) News and Editorial, General
All scanner ready copy produced and received by the news and editorial
department of the Publisher will be accepted and processed by Composing
Room employees. Copy received by the Publisher which is not scanner ready
or scanner acceptable will be typed or perforated by Composing Room employees.
No typing pool will be created or used to prepare such copy the Composing
Room, however, copy which is now typed by employees not covered by this
agreement may continue to be typed and made scanner ready before submission
to the Composing Room.
(d) Wire Service and Syndicated Copy
All wire service and syndicated copy that is received by the editorial
department of the Publisher scanner ready or as direct computer input
will be accepted in original and edited form and processed by Composing
Room employees.
(e) Coding
(1) All coding for display ads, including classified display ads, will
be done by Composing Room employees.
(2) Composing Room employees will provide only the external cover coding
(header sheet) when required for classified ads, general news, editorial
copy, and syndicated copy.
(f) General
The news and editorial department may utilize VDT terminals to recall
OCR scanner prepared or direct input material from electronic storage
to make editorial changes.
(a) At the time a story has been set in type or ready for electronic page
makeup, and editorial changes are required for that edition, such work
shall be performed in the Composing Room.
The Classified Department may utilize VDT terminals to recall single column
classified ads, without borders, cuts or illustrations, from electronic
storage in order to correct, add, delete, or kill copy, and also for the
addition of necessary coding.
2. Operation of Video Display Terminals in the Composing Room
Subject to the limitations below, the Publisher reserves the right to
assign, reassign, transfer, or eliminate any of the work as a result of
new technology, equipment, systems or processes. The Publisher shall have
the right to determine what constitutes such technology, equipment, systems,
or processes. The employees shall process any copy, or input material
of any kind.
However, in no event will the Publisher assign the following work outside
to non-Composing Room employees:
a) Paid display advertising that requires composition of type or making
up or updating, when received by the Publisher, or paid display ads requiring
correction or alterations when received by the Publisher. An exception
is the text of display ads which require keystroking as part of the sales
effort at the point of sale. That keyboarding will not be duplicated when
received in the Composing Room.
b) Paid classified display advertising which requires composition of type
or making up or updating when received by the Composing Room, or paid
classified display advertising which requires corrections or alterations
when received by the Composing Room. The Publisher agrees not to install
display ad make up terminals outside the composing room in order to perform
work in violation of the union's jurisdiction.
All material keyboarded by the Composing Room shall be proofread, regardless
of the method used, by the Composing Room.
3. Appropriate Bargaining
Unit
Should new technology eliminate or replace work performed within the jurisdiction
of the Union, as referred to in the Labor Agreement, then the jurisdiction
of the Union and the appropriate unit for collective bargaining is defined
in 2(a) and 2(b) of the Supplemental Agreement.
4. Reproduction
It is recognized that this contract differs from the agreement which expired
July 31, 1974 between the parties in that it includes provisions for specific
additional benefits and preservation of work opportunities for employees
in lieu of previous contract provisions which required the reproduction
of certain advertisements received from sources outside of the Composing
room. It is understood and agreed that the Publisher has the right to
use such material without subsequent reproduction of such work by employees
covered by this agreement. The Publisher agrees not to subcontract work
normally performed in the Composing Room, but material coming in from
advertisers that heretofore has been reproduced shall not be considered
subcontracting. It is further recognized that the contract provision requiring
all work within the jurisdiction of the Union to be performed only by
journeymen and associates covered by this agreement is not applicable
to the work referred to in this paragraph.
5. Notice Period
When new technology, equipment, systems or processes are assigned by the
Publisher which affect employees covered by this Agreement, the Publisher
will notify the Union promptly upon the decision to introduce and assign
technology or the date of lease or purchase from the vendor but in no
instance shall the notice be less than thirty (30) days before the intended
date of operation. The notice period is intended to provide an opportunity
for journey level employees, or associates to train for such operation.
6. Other Work Assignments
Composing room employees shall also perform work as the Publisher may
direct which may not be covered by this Agreement. When employees perform
such work, it is understood this work will not, by performance, come under
the jurisdiction of the Union.
7. System Input
Subject to new technology, on the occasions when display advertising materials
(such as borders, signs, logos, emblems, signatures, reverses, or other
advertising graphics) must be entered into the electronic display advertising
system, employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement shall
perform such work.
8. News Paste-Up
The Publisher recognizes new technology, systems, or processes may decrease
the News paste-up function; however, the decrease will occur gradually
over time. To the extent the News paste-up continues, except pasting-up
text which is incorporated with graphics and any other paste-up material
presently excluded, employees covered by this agreement shall continue
to do such paste-up work.
9. Transfers
9.1 Both parties recognize the addition or expansion of technology may
create a surplus of employees in the Composing Room.
9.2 Therefore, the Publisher will extend an extra effort to make Composing
Room employees aware of job opportunities in other departments of The
Times by posting known job openings in the Composing Room.
9.2.1 Job-guaranteed employees who are successful candidates for other
positions shall receive the following assurances and protections:
9.2.1(a) The employee shall retain his or her job guarantee in the Composing
Room subject to the Supplemental Agreement provided the employee remains
a member of the Union in good standing.
9.2.1(b) The employee may return to the Composing Room and exercise his
or her priority rights after providing reasonable notice to the department
to which the employee transferred and to the Composing Room.
9.2.1(c) The employee shall be paid and receive benefits in accordance
with the policies or labor agreement associated with the job to which
the employee transferred. However, if the transferred job pays less than
the rate of pay for the guaranteed employee in the Composing Room, The
Times will pay the employee the hourly differential, plus any overtime
adjustment that may be necessary under the provision of the department's
labor agreement.
9.2.1(d) Unless transferred to a salaried position, the transferred employee
shall receive the equivalent of the productivity leave described in the
Supplemental Agreement, such equivalent to be paid in the form of a bonus
each January.
9.2.1(e) Employees who volunteer to transfer and are successful in the
new job assignment shall receive an incentive of not less than $1,000
as a completion bonus following the annual anniversary of the transfer
and the next two anniversaries thereafter.
9.3 Surplus employees may be temporarily assigned to meaningful project
jobs or activities outside the Composing Room, subject to the following
limitations and understandings. Such meaningful projects shall not include
work in the production departments or work which violates the jurisdiction
of other Seattle Times labor agreements.
9.3.1 The Publisher shall post a description of the project jobs or activity
in the Composing Room. The posting will include such information as:
9.3.1(a) A description of the work assignment, the department and supervisor
involved.
9.3.1(b) The anticipated duration of the activity.
9.3.1(c) The anticipated hours of work and days off.
9.3.1(d) The number of people required in the project.
9.3.2 Employees shall notify the supervisor of their interest in the project.
9.3.3 If more employees volunteer than the project requires, subject to
production or training considerations, the supervisor will make the assignment
by priority.
9.3.4 If fewer employees volunteer than the project requires, the supervisor
may assign employees to the project by inverse priority, provided no employee
shall be required to transfer to a project more than one time each calendar
year, except by mutual agreement.
9.3.5 Employees assigned to such projects shall be compensated in accordance
with this Agreement.
9.3.6 Employees are expected to make a best faith effort to satisfactorily
perform all duties assigned to bring the project to a successful conclusion.
However, the parties recognize an employee may, occasionally, be unable
to perform such work or may lose interest in the project. For these reasons,
the employee may return to the Composing Room at any time at self-request
or the project supervisor may remove the employee from the project.
9.4 The parties to this Memorandum of Agreement agree that job guarantee
employees who voluntarily transfer to positions outside the Composing
Room shall be required to work in accordance with the rules, policies
or labor agreements which govern the working arrangements of the department
to which the employee transferred.
10. Retirement Incentives
10.1 The Publisher has the right to develop and offer periodic retirement
incentives to individuals named on the job security list after consultation
and notification to the Local Union.
10.2 Each year the Publisher shall provide the Union and post in the Composing
Room the minimum number of employees the Publisher has determined to be
excessive for the period following the posting, if any, after consultation
and notification to the Local Union.
10.3 The posting shall also include the retirement incentive plan of the
Publisher.
10.4 Following the posting, but for not less than thirty (30) days, the
job-guarantee employees may indicate their desire to terminate employment
with the Publisher, up to the maximum employees determined by the posting.
Such employees shall be entitled to the incentives in the amount, form
and frequency as appears in the Publisher posting.
10.5 If more employees volunteer to terminate than are determined to be
excessive, the employee's priority standing will determine the employee(s)
eligible for incentive retirement.
10.6 At minimum, the Publisher's incentive plan shall be as follows:
10.6.1 Upon termination, employees may elect to receive a lump sum incentive
in an amount not less than Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) (subject
to lawful taxes and authorized deductions including union dues) or;
10.6.2 Upon termination, employees may elect to receive a supplemental
retirement incentive in the amount of Nine hundred dollars ($900) per
month (subject to lawful taxes and authorized deductions including union
dues). The employee shall receive the supplemental retirement incentive
for a period of thirty-six (36) months.
10.6.2 (a) In the event of the death of an employee receiving the supplemental
retirement incentive, if the employee has received less than Twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000) in benefits, the employee's estate shall be
paid Nine hundred dollars ($900) per month until the combination of payments
to the employee and the estate equals Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
If an employee has received Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or
more at the time of death, no further payments will be made to the estate.
10.6.3 For any employee who terminates, the Publisher will continue to
pay for the retired employee the Publisher's portion of the employee's
health and welfare until the employee qualifies for Medicare or for a
minimum period of 24 months, but in no event for a period greater than
60 months. In any event, the coverage will terminate if the retired employee
obtains coverage with another employer.
10.6.4 The retiree will pay any employee portion that may be required
or the |