'St. Paul Pioneer Press' Asks Union Workers to take Furlough

By: The St. Paul Pioneer Press is asking union workers to take a week of unpaid time off as the newspaper seeks to cut costs.

The paper's members of the Newspaper Guild were voting Friday on the request to take leaves starting as early as next week.

Reporter and Guild unit officer Dave Orrick said the request came from management on Thursday. The paper has 307 Guild members.

Orrick said the paper has demanded the furloughs from managers and most non-union workers.

Orrick said the paper wanted 70 percent of the furloughs taken by March 31, and the remainder by April 30.

A Pioneer Press spokeswoman said the paper doesn't comment on internal matters.

The Pioneer Press is owned by MediaNews Group.