ARTICLE XXIV: Pension

1.    The Publisher agrees not to suspend or terminate the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan before the expiration date of this Agreement.  Covered employees should refer to the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan Summary Plan Description for more detailed information concerning the Plan.

2.    “Soft Freeze” of the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan is described as follows:

a.    The parties have agreed to a “soft freeze” of the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan referenced above for employees who are hired on November 30, 2007, the day following the signing of this Agreement with the Portland Newspaper Guild, and thereafter.  The term “soft freeze” means that participation in the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan will be frozen on the date the new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Portland Newspaper Guild is signed.  No employee hired after the date following the signing of the Agreement will be a participant in or eligible to receive benefits from the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan.

b.    In accordance with the “soft freeze,” any employee hired on or before the date of signing of this Agreement will remain covered by the language of this Article and the 401(k) plan described in Section 1 of Article XXIII (401(k)) herein.  The “soft freeze” of the pension shall not impact any such employee.

c.    All Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. employees shall be treated the same in regard to the pension “soft freeze” other than those previously obligated through other Collective Bargaining Agreements.

3.    Merger of the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan is described as follows:

It is the intention of the parties that the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan be merged with the Amended Retirement Plan for Employees of the Walla-Walla Union-Bulletin as soon after ratification of this Agreement as is reasonably practical. The parties and their representatives will take all steps necessary to effectuate such a merger.

4.    It is recognized that modification of the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan may be made in order to comply with federal law.

5.    The Publisher shall be responsible for administering and funding the Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. Pension Plan and shall have the right to make changes in the administration of and/or modifications to the Plan unless:

    a.    The change in administration or to the Plan results in a change in the eligibility or qualification standard for eligibility of employee participants in the Plan, or

    b.    The change in administration or in the Plan results in the change in the value of a benefit a qualified employee is eligible to receive.

    Any changes to the Plan affecting items a. and b. above shall require the written mutual agreement of the parties.