'Globe' Guild Members Expect Latest Proposal to Pass Vote

By: Joe Strupp Newspaper Guild members at The Boston Globe -- who narrowly voted down a controversial concession agreement two weeks ago -- seem ready to approve a new offer, which union leaders announced late last night.

The significant change is that a proposed salary cut was dropped from 8.4% to 5.9%, according to members who spoke with E&P. But most still want to see details.

"At first blush, it seems acceptable," says Frank Phillips, statehouse bureau chief and among those who will lose a lifetime job guarantee in the new agreement. "It is better in terms of a pay cut. But there are other questions about pensions and health benefits."

Phillips added that, unlike the previous proposal, this agreement has the support of the union leadership. "With the union recommending it, people want to move on and are ready to settle. This will probably be approved."

Matt Viser, another statehouse journalist, agrees. He says he was among those who voted against the last offer: "I didn't feel like [The New York Times Company] negotiated in good faith, they just sort of dictated terms." But he says this proposal is likely to pass. "It is bound to get more support, but I don't know what else we gave up to get to that number," he added.

A vote is scheduled for July 20. Union members plan to meet tonight with their leadership to get more details on the proposal.

"I don't know how I am going to vote, I expect I will vote yes," says Beth Daley, a Guild unit chair. "It looks like the best deal we are going to get. I expect the vote will pass; everyone wants this over."

Daley noted that it is still unclear how the recently instituted 23% salary cut will be handled. The Times Company implemented it last week in reaction to the previous proposal being rejected. "What is unclear for me is how they are going to reimburse us for the 23% pay cut," she said.

Brian Mooney, a veteran reporter who spoke out against the last proposal, says he remains unsure of this agreement until he reviews it. But he said the general rank and file view seems to be it is worth accepting.

"Everyone wants to see the numbers and I don't think it will be unanimous, but it probably puts some wind at their backs," he said of the supporters. "It is a tentative agreement which means the bargaining committee and the company have agreed this is the best they will do."

Scott Allen, another reporter, adds: "it is not like getting a raise, but it is money back in the pockets over what would have been lost." He also said the previous rejection helped bring unity to the guild, even though there was some divisiveness over elements of the agreement such as the lifetime job guarantee.

"We were put in a very difficult situation, not of our own making and there was a deep difference of opinion over how to handle it," he says. "After the rejection of the contract, I think the union did a good job of pulling itself together."