'Boston Herald,' Teamsters Reach Deal on Outsourcing

By: E&P Staff The Boston Herald has reached a tentative agreement with unions representing approximately 130 workers who will be affected if the paper outsources its printing next month as planned. Publisher Pat Purcell is negotiating for News Corp.'s Chicopee, Mass., plant and Gannett's Boston Offset to print his 182,350-circulation tabloid.

The Herald's Greg Turner reported Purcell saying that talks with four Teamsters locals covered drivers, mailers, paper handlers and haulers and press operators facing layoffs.

Turner quotes Purcell saying, "Ultimately it came down to a proposal from the unions that we accepted," Purcell said. "Everybody worked very hard to get this done. Everybody recognizes the difficulties the newspaper industry is going through."

Negotiations that began in summer -- after the Herald said it sought to close its pressroom -- concluded in long sessions earlier this week. "What could have been a rancorous and bitter situation was handled professionally and businesslike under very dire circumstances," Teamster official John Murphy told Turner.

While that deal awaits ratification by union members, the paper is negotiating with unions representing machinists, electricians and other employees.