Here are some things you might not have realized about the retirement options being offered by Journal Sentinel Inc. — unless you read all the fine print:
* If you take the option of freezing your pension benefits at the current level and taking the 3% annual employer contribution to your 401(k), the company won’t give you anything toward your retirement next year. The pension contributions would end in 2006, but the first 3% contribution won’t come into your 401(k) until 2008.
* That 3% annual contribution would be in addition to — not instead of — any match that you’re already getting on your 401(k). But, like the match, the annual contribution would not be guaranteed. Small print on the brochures we’ve received indicates the annual contribution would be dependent on company profits. Journal Sentinel Inc. executives have indicated details of that point remain under review.
Milwaukee Newspaper Guild representatives will be meeting with the company to negotiate on the retirement changes, particularly the move to eliminate all traditional pensions for everyone hired after May 1 of this year. Meanwhile, Guild leaders urge all employees to carefully study all of the information available to see which option best serves their needs.