Globe's largest union to vote June 8 on cuts

The Boston Globe’s largest union said today it will vote on June 8 whether to ratify a management proposal to cut wages by about 10 percent and strip some members of lifetime job guarantees.

The concessions, totaling $10 million, also include significant reductions in benefits for members of the Boston Newspaper Guild, which represents more than 600 editorial, advertising and business office employees.

Leaders of the Globe’s other major unions said they have not yet set dates to vote on similar packages pending before their members.

The Guild vote will come a little more than two months after the Globe's owner -- The New York Times Co. -- said it would shutter the paper if it didn’t receive a total of $20 million in concessions from unions.

The Times Co., which bought the Globe in 1993 for $1.1 billion, said it will impose a 23 percent pay cut on Guild employees if the union rejects its proposal. Union leaders have said they would fight such a move through litigation, if necessary.
(By Keith O'Brien, Globe staff)