'Boston Globe' Union Sets New Vote -- Even Without Contract

By: The Boston Globe's largest union has scheduled a contract ratification vote, even though it has yet to reach a new tentative agreement with management.

In a letter Thursday to union members that was disclosed on the Globe's web site, Boston Newspaper Guild president Daniel Totten said setting the July 20 date for a vote was meant to "mitigate the impact" of a 23 percent pay cut that was imposed on the union after it rejected a new contract calling for an 8.3 percent wage cut and other concessions.

Union rules require 30-day notice for a ratification vote.

Totten said in the letter that talks with the Globe's owner - The New York Times Co. ( NYT - news - people ) - were progressing toward a new deal but he stressed that no agreement had been reached.

A meeting between the Guild and the National Labor Relations Board has been postponed.