Boston Newspaper Guild President: 'Close to an Agreement'

By: Joe Strupp It would seem progress is being made between The Boston Globe and the Boston Newspaper Guild in talks that resumed Monday on a concession agreement.

A statement issued at 5 p.m. by Guild President Dan Totten stated:

"The Boston Newspaper Guild continues to have productive discussions with the New York Times Company and Globe management. We feel we are close to reaching an agreement that we can bring to Guild members for a vote."

The two sides did not meet, but spoke by phone, according to a Globe story Tuesday. That marked the first such negotiations since last Wednesday.

The Globe last week instituted a 23% salary cut after guild members rejected a proposal two weeks ago that included an 8.3% pay cut, a one-week unpaid furlough and the elimination of lifetime job guarantees for some 400 employees.

Totten's statement did not indicate specifics about further talks or when they might end.