The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, which represents journalists as well as advertising and circulation employees at The Seattle Times, says it has reached a tentative contract agreement with the company. Ratification voting will occur next week.

Writes Guild Administrative Officer Liz Brown, in an announcement to union members:

This contract contains significant changes in the way Times employees pay for health insurance, and how much they pay. Some employees will pay considerably less for coverage under the proposed new system, while others will pay more.

The contract also includes wage increases.

That sounds like a pretty good settlement during a time of economic crisis — inside and outside the Seattle Times Co. headquarters in South Lake Union.