Newspaper Guild launches strike after pact talks falter

It is the union's first strike against the newspaper since 1964.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Newspaper Guild is on strike today after walking out of talks aimed at reaching a contract settlement with The Vindicator.
The Guild's two-year agreement with the newspaper expired at midnight Monday. Talks had continued just past the midnight deadline, but by then the strike was under way, company negotiators said this morning.
"They left without a final offer, and they left when the mediator had indicated that progress was still being made," said Atty. Charles T. Price, the newspaper's chief negotiator, who has three decades of experience in collective bargaining. "I have never seen a union walk out without a final offer."
In fact, company negotiators said most of the union's negotiating committee had left before the midnight strike deadline.
The company had offered a pay raise and bonuses over the life of a three-year contract.
Top scale for reporters, copy readers, artists and photographers was $713.35 a week. Top scale for district managers -- the highest classification for circulation -- was $691.35.
It is the union's first strike against the newspaper since 1964; that walkout lasted eight months.
Management reaction
"It's ironic that we are the only unionized newspaper in the Valley, and a strike by our union members is going to allow nonunion papers to come in and chew up the market -- and just make it difficult for us to provide good wages and benefits for our employees," said Mark Brown, Vindicator general manager.
The union represents 179 full-time and part-time reporters, photographers, circulation district managers, delivery drivers and other employees in the circulation, editorial and classified departments.
Robert Wiseman, human resources director, said The Vindicator "will continue to fulfill its obligation to our readers and advertisers of the Mahoning Valley."
The membership had decided Thursday by a vote of 110-2 that it wanted the Monday strike deadline to hold.
Union perspective
"We couldn't bridge the gap on the key issues of wages and health care benefits," Debora Shaulis, vice president of the local, told the Associated Press.
Federal mediators Jenifer Flesher and Tom Connelly had attended the talks, which resumed Monday for about 15 hours after a weekend break.
Negotiations will resume at the federal mediators' call, Price explained.
"The strike by them provides additional opportunity to strengthen nonunion papers in the market, in the face of Vindicator circulation and advertising declines over the last 20 years," he noted.