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2009-06-10 Home Front: Culture Wars

Looking for the next Idiot of the Day,,,

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Posted by Procopius2k 2009-06-10 15:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Globe reporters make plea for mercy

Desperate Globe reporters yesterday pleaded with New York Times [NYT] owner Arthur Pinch Sulzberger Jr. to call off the lawyers and head off a bitter fight even as the papers biggest union and management dug in for whats shaping up as a long battle over $10 million in givebacks.

We believe that you dont want us to take a 23 percent pay cut. We believe you understand that the consequences of such a drastic cut would be disastrous for many of us who have worked tirelessly for the Globe for years, the letter said. Not only could many of us lose our homes and our child care, but too much of our top talent might no longer be able to afford to work for a newspaper that theyve given their hearts and souls to for so long.

Mr. Sulzberger, were asking for your leadership. You can make a difference. We desperately need it right now.

The cry for help - which lavished Sulzberger with praise and called him a mensch, Yiddish for a person of integrity - was sent after the company told Boston Newspaper Guild members they were getting a 23 percent pay cut next week after they rejected the companys $10 million in cost-cutting demands. The offer, which included the equivalent of a 10 percent pay cut and drastically reduced benefits, was voted down Monday by a slim 277-265 vote.

I have to do everything within my means to safeguard this institution, Globe publisher P. Steven Ainsley told members in an e-mail yesterday.

Guild leaders met with their lawyers yesterday and Totten sent a letter to Globe negotiator Gregory Thornton asking management to rescind its impasse declaration and 23 percent pay cut - and return to the negotiating table.

Totten said theres been no substantive bargaining regarding the 23 percent cut and imposing it violates the contract and law.

Globe spokesman Bob Powers said the company responded with its own letter, telling Totten they wont withdraw the cut or return to the bargaining table.

Guild leaders plan to meet with Times Co. management Monday.

Meanwhile, at a union meeting last night, Totten said he has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, whose investigators plan to meet with Guild leaders on Tuesday to begin an investigation.

Guild labor attorney David Wanger told members management cant claim an impasse and impose cuts until theres been an arbitration. Theres a dispute as to whether they are properly proceeding, Wanger said.

Globe copy editor Jim Franklin stood up and said many staffers are scared and financially stressed. People think were all fat and rich and we can afford to take a hit like this, Franklin said.

Afterward, staffers circulated a petition calling for a mediator to settle the dispute.

Times Co. spokeswoman Catherine Mathis had some good news for Globe staffers, saying the company doesnt plan to close the 137-year-old broadsheet. The Times had threatened to shutter the paper unless its unions came up with $20 million in concessions.

Thy're groveling. It's delicious...
I can't wait to tell Derrick Z. Jackson that, yes, I would like fries with that.

Posted by tu3031 2009-06-10 17:19|| 2009-06-10 17:19|| Front Page Top

#2 "We're skeptical about the number of bidders who would try to purchase an entity that doesn't make any money and doesn't have a labor base that appears willing to try to get it toward being profitable,"

How about the U.S. Government?

Posted by DoDo 2009-06-10 19:25|| 2009-06-10 19:25|| Front Page Top

#3 Dodo,

You're giving Omaha Ideas.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2009-06-10 20:36|| 2009-06-10 20:36|| Front Page Top

23:55 Truth Yesss
23:48 Iblis
23:47 Atomic Conspiracy
23:40 trailing wife
23:05 trailing wife
23:00 Atomic Conspiracy
22:57 JosephMendiola
22:55 Atomic Conspiracy
22:46 JosephMendiola
22:45 trailing wife
22:39 JosephMendiola
22:34 JosephMendiola
22:32 JosephMendiola
22:26 JosephMendiola
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22:22 Truth Yesss
22:17 JosephMendiola
22:13 Truth Yesss
22:11 Frank G
22:10 Atomic Conspiracy
22:07 DarthVader
22:03 Truth Yessss!
22:01 Rambler in Virginia
21:57 rjschwarz