Newsday union rejects proposed contract a 2nd time

Unionized employees at Newsday Sunday rejected a proposed contract that sought immediate wage reductions of 5 to 10 percent and a wage freeze for two more years.

In a 331-139 vote, members of Local 406 of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters turned down a tentative agreement that Newsday executives said was necessary in the face of declining revenue. Like other newspapers, Newsday said it has seen its finances pinched by the recession, advertisers migrating to the Internet and circulation declines at newsstands.

In January, union members voted down a three-year contract, 473-10, that included wage cuts of 10 percent to 15 percent, longer work hours and less vacation. The pact rejected Sunday called for smaller wage reductions and no changes to work hours and vacation time.

"The vote from members was one of disappointment at the company seeking concessions at a time when we feel they aren't losing money, though we concede it is not making a lot," said union negotiator George Tedeschi, GCC president and former Local 406 chief. "This union is prepared to go back to the table and work toward an amicable resolution . . . The vote not only showed disappointment with the company, but also the solidarity of all union members sticking together."

Asked whether he had contacted Newsday about resuming negotiations, Tedeschi said, "Yes, but nothing is scheduled at this time."

Newsday spokeswoman Deidra Parrish Williams said the company had no comment on the contract vote. Since 2008, the paper has been a subsidiary of Bethpage-based Cablevision Systems Corp.

Each of the union's six bargaining units - pressroom, editorial, transportation, building maintenance, electronic pre-press and platemaking - voted down the contract proposal.

Papers across the country have demanded wage cuts and other concessions from their workers. The Rocky Mountain News in Denver and several others have closed while some publishers, including Tribune Co., Newsday's former owner, have filed for bankruptcy.

Last month, the Daily News sought to reduce its workforce by offering buyouts to editorial employees. At The Boston Globe, members of the Newspaper Guild agreed last year to a pay cut of nearly 6 percent after its parent, The New York Times Co., threatened a shutdown.