Strike averted as unions reach deal with newspapers

A newspaper strike was averted yesterday when members of The Philadelphia Inquirer's and the Philadelphia Daily News' Newspaper Guild reached a contract agreement with their publishers, Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. The Newspaper Guild was the last of 10 unions to reach an agreement with PNI. A decision was reached when PNI management agreed that the 20 commissioned sales representatives PNI was planning to hire would be permitted to join the Guild. PNI and union representatives were able to end all disputes over non-economic issues at approximately 2 a.m., two hours after the proposed strike deadline. The resolution ended marathon negotiation sessions that began late last week, when union leaders set a Monday strike deadline. Union members had been working on a day-to-day basis since their contract expired September 1. Economic negotiations were reached just after 6 p.m. yesterday, when the unions agreed to a pact guaranteeing all union members a $150 increase for wages, health and welfare benefits to be spread out over four years. The heads of each union involved in the negotiations will meet with their members to budget their new financial packages. The time and place of the ratification will be announced today. Earlier on Monday, non-economic obstacles concerning the Teamster's Union, which represents the drivers and the mailers, were settled. Teamsters' disputes with PNI centered on the plant and a new distribution system that shortened some drivers' routes and allowed management to hire non-union mailers at distribution sites. After reaching non-economic agreements Monday night, John Laigie, head of Teamster's Local 628, said he was pleased with the outcome. "I think membership will overwhelmingly support the packets their committees are bringing back," he said. David Baum, a Philadelphia Newspaper Guild service representative, called the four-day-long marathon negotiations a "pretty intense, long process for all those involved." "Everybody likes to see a good settlement reached for both sides," Baum said. "But because I don't know the details, I don't know if it's good or indifferent." Staff Writer Jordana Horn contributed to this article.