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Globe Union to Vote on Pay Cut

Rejection could spark legal battle

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 8, 2009 11:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Boston Globe’s biggest union votes today on whether to accept a $10 million cut to their wages and benefits, including an 8.4% pay cut, or to mount a legal fight with parent the New York Times Co., the Boston Herald reports. If the contract is rejected, the Globe has threatened to slice pay 23%. But with the drivers’ union having reached a new contract, the paper won’t close, said a spokesman.

“Unless we achieve $10 million in savings from the Guild, the savings already ratified by the other unions will not take effect,” said the Globe spokesman. Some members of the Boston Newspaper Guild, including its president, don’t like the proposal. If it's voted down, “there may be legal options to try to impede what the company is apparently trying to do,” says a labor lawyer, potentially sending the parties back to the drawing board.

Dorothy Clark, a copy editor for The Boston Globe, speaks with reporters as she departs a Boston Newspaper Guild meeting, in Boston, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
Dorothy Clark, a copy editor for The Boston Globe, speaks with reporters as she departs a Boston Newspaper Guild meeting, in Boston, Thursday, May 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Daniel Totten, president of the Boston Newspaper Guild, The Boston Globe's biggest union, arrives at a meeting of the union, in Boston, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
Daniel Totten, president of the Boston Newspaper Guild, The Boston Globe's biggest union, arrives at a meeting of the union, in Boston, Thursday, May 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The facade of The Boston Globe building is seen in Boston in this Thursday, April 30, 2009 file photo.
The facade of The Boston Globe building is seen in Boston in this Thursday, April 30, 2009 file photo.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Robert_Dada
Jun 8, 2009 8:23 AM CDT
Unions have little to do with the demise of newspapers. During the 90's, newspaper conglomerates (and by extension, their shareholders) were enjoying 30+ percent returns but decided to siphon off these profits for personal wealth as opposed to reinvesting in the business and technology model, which was about to rapidly change due to the web. Once again, rich management fat cats shot themselves in the foot, but it's the average union worker who is bearing the burden of this disasterous business strategy.
NewserHound
Jun 8, 2009 5:06 AM CDT
Unions are sucking the last of the lifeblood left in this country. Are all unions purposes to suck as much $$ out of the system while protecting lazy and dishonest employees? Unions are a detriment to society, much like socialism.
cmenthead
Jun 8, 2009 4:53 AM CDT
i hope the guild members fully understand the consequences of rejecting managements final offer. this deal won't get sweetened and a pay cut is always better than a job cut. the guild has no leverage or options. the days of union demands are gone and these knuckle-headed members don't seem to have gotten the memo.

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