Newsday to union: Proposal 'last, best offer'

Newsday yesterday sent a letter to the union that represents many of its workers stating that a contract proposal voted down over the weekend constituted the company's "last, best and final offer."

Publisher Terry Jimenez wrote the letter to Michael O'Connor, president of Local 406 of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It comes after union members voted 331-139 on Sunday to reject the proposal, which sought wage reductions of 5 to 10 percent.

The letter stated that the union had until 5 p.m. on July 5 to accept the latest offer or the company would consider that an impasse existed and that the paper had a right to "implement all or selected parts" of the proposal.

Like other newspapers, Newsday says its finances have been trimmed by the recession, advertisers migrating to the Internet and circulation declines at newsstands. Union officials said Newsday did not provide enough detailed information on its finances during talks.

GCC national president George Tedeschi said there's no impasse and the union is willing to negotiate an amicable solution. "I think the company is trying to intimidate the workers by declaring something that is not so," he said.

Newsday officials declined to comment.

If the company imposes a pay cut without an agreement, Tedeschi said, the union would file charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Union members rejected an earlier proposal in January that would have cut pay 10 to 15 percent.