Globe to shut down its Billerica printing plant

The Boston Globe plans to shutter its Billerica printing plant by 2010, affecting as many as 200 employees who work at the site. The paper plans to keep its main printing plant in Dorchester.

The decision is the latest in a series of moves by the Globe, a unit of The New York Times Co., to reduce expenses because of declining print circulation and advertising.

‘‘We are closing our Billerica printing plant because we no longer need as many presses to print all the copies of the Globe,’’ publisher Steve Ainsley said. ‘‘This has been a very difficult decision to make, but one that will strengthen the financial position of the business.’’

Other newspapers have taken similar actions. The Boston Herald recently said it would close its sole printing plant in Boston, rather than upgrade its worn-out presses, and let go 130 to 160 workers. Dow Jones & Co. and Boston Offset will print the paper. Last year, The Patriot Ledger in Quincy cut 130 jobs when it shifted printing to the Globe.

Globe spokesman Bob Powers said the Billerica satellite plant will probably close in 2009 or 2010. He said it’s unclear how many of the 200 workers at the 15-year-old plant would lose their jobs, adding that it depends on negotiations with labor unions and production decisions.

Many of the affected workers are pressmen represented by the Boston Newspaper Printing Pressman Union No. 3. A union official could not be reached for comment.

Powers declined to say how much the Globe would save by closing the plant. He said the company is working with real estate brokers to sell the site.

The company has not decided where to print local copies of The New York Times, which have been printed in Billerica, Powers said.

In the first half of this year, overall revenue fell 9.6 percent at New England Media Group, which includes the Globe, Boston.com, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The Globe has aggressively cut expenses, including trimming jobs through buyouts and attrition.
(By Todd Wallack, Globe staff)