Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507170052
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DETROIT LENGTH: Medium
Striking workers picketed the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News on Friday while unions and management prepared for a long walkout and readers made do with scarce copies of a combined run of the papers.
Six unions representing 2,500 workers began the strike late Thursday after talks mediated by Mayor Dennis Archer failed to produce an agreement.
No new talks were scheduled.
Detroit Newspapers, which publishes both dailies under a joint operating agreement, vowed to publish despite the strike. The unions mounted an advertising and circulation boycott.
``So far, it appears we've pretty much shut them down,'' News sports writer Mike McBride said while picketing outside the newspaper's downtown office.
The company said it printed 150,000 copies of a combined edition Friday and will continue putting out just one paper until further notice.
Detroit Newspapers has overseen non-newsroom operations at the News, owned by Gannett Co. Inc., and the Free Press, owned by Knight-Ridder Inc., since 1989. The papers maintain separate editorial departments under their joint operating agreement.
The morning Free Press averages a circulation of 531,825 and the afternoon News averages 354,403. A combined weekend edition averages 823,310 copies on Saturdays and 1,107,645 on Sundays, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation. The Free Press ranked ninth in the country and the News was 25th.
Distribution appeared to be spotty. Checks of newsstands and stores found few papers for sale. The company halted home delivery but said it hoped to resume it soon.
The strikers include journalists, mailers, circulation workers, press operators, photoengravers and printers.
The company terminated the unions' contracts July 2. The overriding issue for all six unions is the company's drive to cut jobs, said Frank Kortsch, spokesman for Teamsters Local 372
Detroit Newspapers has said it wants to eliminate the jobs of about 100 managers and related workers, saying that would save $14.1 million over three years.
Negotiators have said other sticking points include a company proposal to give pay raises based on performance, instead of across-the-board increases, to journalists at the News; and company pension contributions.
``The issues are still substantial but they're all concessionary issues,'' said Don Kummer, spokesman for Local 22 of The Newspaper Guild.
Several strikers said Detroit Newspapers had been looking for a strike to weaken the unions and possibly close one newspaper. Detroit Newspapers has said it has no plans to close one of the papers.
by CNB