Monday, May 4, 2009

No Closure Filing for Boston Globe; Six of Seven Unions Agree to Cuts

Management has announced that it will not file a plant-closing notice today -- as required by law -- to close the Boston Globe after reaching concessions from six of seven unions.

"We expect to achieve both the workplace flexibility, and the financial savings that we sought from these unions," Globe spokesman Robert Powers said in a statement on the Globe's website. "We are not, therefore, making a filing today." Companies are required by law to give 60-days notice to the state and employees before closing a business.

The Globe reached agreements with unions representing delivery truck drivers, mailers, press operators, electricians, machinists and technical services workers. Those unions represent about 500 employees. The agreements still must be ratified by a vote of members in each unions. The sole union without an agreement is the Boston Newspaper Guild, which represents more than 600 editorial, advertising and commercial workers.

The Globe reported that Guild leaders left talks today without a deal, with the elimination of lifetime job guarantees enjoyed by about 190 members said to be a key issue separating the two sides. Leaders in unions with similar job guarantees have made concessions on the issue, but declined to release details, the Globe said.

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