CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Sun-Times workers ratified a new three-year contract Thursday that gives reporters, photographers and other editorial employees annual 3 percent raises.þþThe Chicago Newspaper Guild's bargaining unit voted 83-14 to accept the deal.þþWorkers had been prepared to strike and gathered in the company's newsroom with their coats on before the deal was reached Oct. 20. The previous contract expired Sept. 30.þþThe new contract also calls for an increase in the company's contributions to health insurance premiums and a $1,675 signing bonus. It also provides domestic partner benefits to all Sun-Times employees.þþThe contract covers 189 employees.þþBefore the contract was ratified, reporters, artists and photographers with less than one year experience made $42,000 annually and those with more than five years experience earned about $63,000. Assistant city editors and columnists made a minimum of about $69,500 a year.þþþþ
Source: NY Times
