Photographers reacted angrily to the removal of the entire full-time photography unit at The Chicago Sun-Times and its sister publications as part of a move towards online video – captured by reporters using iPhones.
The decision to rehire four of the photographers – less than 15% of those made jobless – was hailed as a victory by their union the Chicago Newspaper Guild.
‘I think bringing some photographers back is a big win,’ said the union’s president David Pollard.
The union says the paper’s publisher has been given until 3 February to reinstate the photographers as part of the agreement.
In a statement, the union added: ‘Any photographer not returning to work will receive a lump sum of $2,000 if an individual photographer waives his or her individual rights to initiate legal action against the company.’
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist John H White was among those hit by the cutbacks.
His images went on show in London in September.
The settlement was part of a wider deal reached with Sun-Times Media.
