Employees Vote To Sell Mexico City Daily

By: Traci Carl, AP Business Writer (AP) Tired of not receiving their wages, employees of the Mexico City daily Excelsior voted Friday in favor of selling what was once one of Mexico's most influential newspapers.

The 584-42 vote by the newspaper's employee cooperative was fueled largely by "frustration with not receiving a salary" for the past four months, newspaper spokesman Miguel Barba said.

It was unclear when the newspaper would be sold or for how much. Barba said officials so far had no serious offers.

The paper has been mired in financial problems and internal struggles for nearly two years.

In October 2000, members of Excelsior's cooperative revolted and ousted director Regino Diaz Redondo over a plan to sell the newspaper.

In December, workers voted to fire the leader of the employee cooperative that runs the daily, but agreed to put off discussion of whether to sell the paper.

In March, dozens of disgruntled former workers stormed the landmark building, beating some employees and telling others they had come to "rescue" them from the paper's current administration.

The occupation ended after some 40 people were arrested, including several police officers from the neighboring state of Mexico. Police said the detained officers told them they were hired to help seize the building.

No serious injuries or damage were reported.

Once one of Mexico City's most respected and independent dailies, Excelsior's troubles began in 1976 when the government of then-President Luis Echeverria organized an internal coup within the cooperative to silence its criticism.

Those who left the newspaper founded two other dailies, Unomasuno and La Jornada, as well as the country's leading news magazine, Proceso.

Excelsior became a faithful supporter of the governing party -- an editorial line that continued until July 2000, when Vicente Fox became the first opposition party candidate elected president.