Tag Results for shutdown

Video extra: Globe political writer Brian Mooney, columnist Alex Beam, and photographer Dina Rudick joined Emily for a discussion of the Globe contract vote and its aftermath - namely the 23 percent wage cut imposed by the New York Times. Mooney helped lead the "no" vote campaign, Beam and Rudick voted "yes."

In the set up piece, Globe writers Maria Cramer, Scott Allen, and David Filipov talked to me about the mood in the newsroom and about how they would deal with living with less.

Boston Globe Newspaper Guild president Dan Totten has sent a message to union members saying that the union is exploring all options - including legal action - to forestall the 23 percent pay cut imposed by the New York Times after last night's contract rejection vote.

Here's the last portion of the letter:

Let me assure you that myself and all members of the Executive Committee will do everything in our power to prevent you from enduring the crippling financial hardship of a 23 percent pay cut.

First, we are meeting today with legal counsel to determine the
fastest means of delaying or preventing the New York Times Company from punishing our members with this extreme and drastic measure;

Second, we are mobilizing the strong support, concern and influence of New Englanders who appreciate and support the work you do, and who will not stand idly by while the New York Times attempts to destroy one of this nation's great news organizations.

Third, we are making arrangements to meet as quickly as possible with the New York Times Co. to begin work toward a realistic and fair agreement on wages, benefits and work rules that we believe can be endorsed by this union leadership and passed by all our members.

Whether you were a 'yes' vote or a 'no' vote yesterday, today we are a union speaking with one voice against the outrageous tactics of the New York Times.

In Unity,

Dan Totten

Tonight's Beat the Press broadcast featured a discussion of the latest news about the Boston Globe, where workers from the paper's largest union were deciding whether to accept a 10 percent wage cut and other concessions in a new contract with the New York Times Company.

Guests in studio were former Globe writer Bruce Mohl, who is now editor of Commonwealth Magazine, former Miami Herald editor Tom Fiedler, and Ira Sills, a labor attorney. Kara Miller was sitting in as host for Emily Rooney, who was on vacation.

Stay with Beat the Press for the latest on the Boston Globe vote - union sources tell us that the results should be available by 10 p.m. or so.

Guild members are voting on a contract proposal that would cut their wages by about 10 percent through salary reductions and an unpaid furlough. If they vote the proposal down - as many observers think they will - the New York Times has threatened to impose a 23 percent wage cut.

Voting began this morning and ends at 8 p.m. to accomodate copy editors and other workers on the night shift. Union officials will have to sort through and tabulate as many as 600 paper ballots to get the result.

We'll also soon be posting the lead segment from tonight's "Greater Boston" show, where we discussed the Globe vote with former Globe writer and current Commonwealth Magazine editor Bruce Mohl, former Miami Herald editor Tom Fiedler, and labor attorney Ira Sills. Kara Miller is substituting as host for Emily.

On Monday, about 600 members of the Boston Newspaper Guild will make a difficult choice on whether to accept a 10 % pay cut. A vote no could mean a possible 23 % pay cut and may threaten to shut down the Boston Globe.

A letter from Newspaper Guild president Dan Totten about next Monday's Boston Globe contract showdown calls the vote "an intensely personal decision" for each member - not exactly a ringing endorsement. 

And while Totten says that the "right decision" will be the outcome of the vote - no matter what it is - the letter also appears to give those leaning toward voting "no" a lot of ammunition. Totten writes:

The company's best offer to Guild members effectively cuts pay 10.3 percent forever. Management, however, will endure a 5 percent pay cut only through December 31. Guild members have been preparing for significant pension and benefit cuts, including an end to any 401K match. Unbelievably, the Times Company has actually boosted the matching contributions for management 401K plans by 66 percent.

Romenesko has a PDF of the actual letter here.

Some key Globe newsroom staffers are circulating a petition warning that the tentative deal reached earlier this month between the Newspaper Guild and the New York Times Company is in danger of failing and asking that the 10 percent wage cut be reduced to five percent.

The Globe reports that one of the sponsors of the petition is Beth Daley, a reporter and union delegate who has been one of the more outspoken newsroom employees about the paper's standoff with the Times, its corporate parent. Daley told fellow reporter Robert Gavin that the proposed contract is in "extraordinary danger" of being rejected.

With the Globe projected to post an $85 million operating loss this year, the Times has demanded that the paper's unions agree to $20 million in concessions (including $10 million from the Guild) or face a complete shutdown of the newspaper.

The tentative agreement reached earlier this month calls for a wage cut and a furlough that would equal about 10 percent of an employee's pay, plus other concessions on benefits, days off, and the elimination of lifetime job guarantees.

The Newspaper Guild has reached a tentative agreement with the New York Times Company that will cost Boston Globe workers an 8.4 percent pay cut, an end to pension contributions and 401K matching payments, an unpaid furlough, and an end to lifetime job guarantees. Now Globe staffers must decide whether to accept the deal or hold out for something better.

The largest Boston Globe employee union, the Newspaper Guild, has reached a tentative agreement with the New York Times Company that includes an 8.3 percent salary cut, a 5 day furlough, and and modifications to lifetime job guarantees held by roughly 200 members.

Boston Phoenix media critic (and frequent "Beat the Press" guest panelist) Adam Reilly and Emerson College journalism professor Manny Paraschos sat down with host Jared Bowen to talk about the Globe's future. Earlier in the day, we talked to Globe reporters Jenna Russell and Sean Murphy about how the newsroom is coping with change.

After all the posturing, blustering, threatening, ultimatums, and noise, it turns out that the hit that Newspaper Guild employees will take (if they vote yes) is an 8.3 percent pay cut and a five-day furlough. At least according to Boston.com.

Not exactly a welcome prospect, to be sure, but certainly not out of line with what other news workers are facing these days. In fact, pay cuts between 5 and 10 percent have become almost the norm. Just today, news broke that New York Times newsroom workers in New York agreed to a 5 percent cut and that Chicago Sun-Times staffers agreed to a 6 percent cut (albeit a temporary one).

The big worry for Globe staffers is not the vote in front of them, but what could come after, including more layoffs.