Joint CST-Guild News Release

CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sun-Times Media Group, publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Newspaper Guild have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.

The contract extension allows the company flexibility to meet the needs of a marketplace that continues to quickly evolve.

Terms of the new deal include new economic and non-economic benefits for the nearly 130 Guild member-employees across all of the company's newspapers.  The deal was reached after 15 months of negotiations between company management and the Guild's bargaining unit.

"We are moving rapidly to change our business to meet new needs of our readers and advertisers," said Jim Kirk, Publisher and Editor of Chicago Sun-Times. "This new agreement will ensure that our employees and management are working together to meet the demands of the market. We were able to reach an agreement that reflects the financial pressures of our business.''

"We are extremely pleased that we have a new deal for our members,'' said David Pollard, president of the Chicago Newspaper Guild. "Myself along with the members of Chicago Newspaper Guild look forward to working with the company to achieve its objectives and are ready to move forward with management to make sure the company remains successful. We'd also like to thank Wrapports, LLC, Chairman Michael Ferro, his negotiating team and  management for reaching this agreement.''

The new contract covers members of the Guild at the Sun-Times, Pioneer Press newspapers, the Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune, the Herald-News in Joliet, and Lake County News-Sun.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.

Web site: www.fmcs.gov

SOURCE Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service