Negotiators for the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild and Journal Sentinel Inc. signed a 2005-2008 contract this morning. The text of the new contract will be posted on our Web site, www.milwaukeenewsguild.org, as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a newsletter will be coming out early next week with more details about how contract provisions will be implemented.
Management has told us that new pay rates are likely to be reflected on our Jan. 19 paychecks. Back pay, however, could take longer, with the last piece — the lump sum bonus that substitutes for a 2005 discretionary raise — possibly as late as March.