By: The Vindicator has told its striking reporters, photographers and truck drivers that it will hire permanent replacements if a contract offer is not approved Wednesday to end a more than eight-month walkout at the newspaper.
The union is to vote on the offer Wednesday night, but its leadership will not recommend that members approve the offer, said Deborah Shaulis, vice president of Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America Local 34011.
The Vindicator has offered raises of 1 percent in each of the first two years and 2 percent in the third year of the contract, along with bonuses totaling $600 per employee in the first two years. The union made a counteroffer Monday that included 2 percent raises in each of the three years and the same bonus package.
Vindicator general manager Mark Brown said the newspaper was not interested in the counteroffer. Without an agreement, the newspaper will begin hiring permanent replacements Thursday, he said.
Another unresolved issue is contract language regarding the newspaper's ability to layoff workers.
The strike began Nov. 16 and is the newspaper's first walkout in 40 years. Shaulis said the walkout would match the length of the 256-day strike in 1964-65 if it lasts until Friday.
The 70,000-circulation Vindicator, which covers northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania, has continued to publish with temporary replacement workers. Striking workers are producing their own newspaper.
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