Knight Ridder, Union Reach Settlement

San Jose-based newspaper chain Knight Ridder Inc. and a union representing local reporters and editors have reached a $1.2-million settlement that will give some current and former workers at the Long Beach Press-Telegram severance pay stemming from Knight Ridder’s sale of the newspaper in 1997, union officials said. Gary North, president of the Southern California Media Guild, said that the settlement was reached in September, but that implementation was delayed until last week. More than 80% of about 200 guild members and union associates employed at the Press-Telegram voted last week to authorize a strike against the current owner, Denver-based MediaNews Group. North said guild members at the Press-Telegram have been working without a contract since MediaNews assumed control of the paper in December 1997. At the time of the sale, about 120 Press-Telegram employees lost their jobs. At least 157 other workers were forced to reapply for their positions. The guild saw the process as de facto termination of its contract and requested severance packages for members.

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