Globe union ambivalent on wage cut?
According to a story in today's Boston Herald, Boston Newspaper Guild president Dan Totten is determined to fight Globe management's request for a 10 percent reduction in employee wages."The Boston Newspaper Guild has given enough in the name of company equity," Totten told the Herald. "Globe and New York Times management must now give back."
But an email Totten sent to the BNG's membership earlier this morning suggests that the union's position on the wage cut may still be undecided. Here's what Totten said today:
Dear Colleague:
The Globe has requested to reopen our contract for the purpose of seeking a 10% wage cut.
Our contract is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2009; it does allow for an economic wage reopener on January 1, 2009.
This current request from the Globe is separate from that clause. The Globe has cited declining revenues as the reason for this emergency request to reopen our contract.
The union’s Executive Committee has made no decision on this issue at the moment. We’re discussing this matter with BNG legal counsel.
No decision will be made without discussion and input from our Governing Board. I urge all members to make your thoughts and opinions known to myself, any BNG executive officer or your delegate. We will also reach out to you directly, most likely in some combination of General Membership meetings, emails, or small group meetings to hear from you directly. More information on this matter to come.
In closing, I thank you for your patience in what is a very difficult time for all of us.
Please do not hesitate to contact myself, BNG executive officers & delegates as we move forward.
In solidarity,
Daniel B. Totten
More as it develops, obv.