Star Tribune, union agree on 3-year deal
by The Associated Press
 
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Star Tribune and The Newspaper Guild have reached a tentative agreement on a proposed three-year contract.

Terms of the deal were not immediately announced.

The proposal would cover about 300 Star Tribune union members, including newsroom, circulation and promotion employees. Union members will get details Thursday, then meet next Wednesday to discuss the proposal and to vote on it eight days before the current contract expires.

Graydon Royce, co-chairman of the newsroom unit, says the proposal addresses economic and operational matters, and includes $2.5 million in cost reductions the company requested in April.

Editor Nancy Barnes praised both parties for reaching a tentative deal. She says the company will achieve those savings through a variety of means, including eliminating some newsroom jobs.