Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-08

ommend acceptance OF this SET
Element.
"Bertram Powers, president
of Local 6 of the ITU, advised
me at 4:45 am. that because
of the international's accept
ance of the proposal the Wage
Scale Committee of Local g.
would recommend adoption Of
a completed agreement. :"
Amory H. Bradford, general
manager and vice president of
the New York Times and chief
negotiator for the publishers,
said it was "a costly settlement
but one which is acceptable to
the publishers"
S1S.5 Million Cost Seen
Mr.. Bradford estimated that
If the package is accepted by
the printers-and If the other
newspaper craft unions accept
similar terms-it will cost the
papers about $18.5 million over
the next two years.
There was no indication that
the agreement will result in a |
rise in newsstand prices of the
papers. The city's morning pa
pers now sell for five cents, the
afternoon editions for 10 cents.
Asked when the papers will
be back on the stands, Mr..
Bradford replied: The papers
will resume publication as soon
as the picket lines are removed.
1 cannot forecast the date"
Mr.. Bradford said the agree
ment would be effective from
the day the newspapers resume
publication. He said the pub
fishers would meet with the
ITU again-"to clean up the
remaining issues and to agree
on contract language"--after
everyone had had a chance to
rest.
Mayor Wagner said subcom-
mittees Of the publishers would
meet with various other unions
to discuss remaining issues
some time later to-day.
Strike Began December 8
The newspaper shutdown i
longest and coStliest in this
city's history-began December
8, when the printers struck the
Times. Daily News. Journal
American and World Telegram
& Sun.
Although their contracts with
all the papers expired at the
same time, the printers did not
strike the Post, Herald Tribune,
Mirror, Long Island Press and
Long Island Star journal. These
closed voluntarily although the
Press continued to publish edi-
lions for circulation outside
New York City.
The Mailers Union, a sister
union Of the TTU, joined the
strike January 8, and the
stereotypers went on strike this
week.
Originally, the printers asked
an increase of SIG a week, plus
fringe benefits the publishers
said would bring their total
cost to $37 per week per man.
They had offered a two-year
package in excess of $40 a
week. The printers basic pre-
strike wage averaged $145 a
week.
Division Of First Raise
Mr.. Powers, in detailing the
new agreement. said the first
years raise of $6.51 would be
divided as follows: 81 in wages;
SO cents In pension contribu-
tons; 81 cost for the increase
in night and overnight differ
entails and a l3-cent item to
hire extra help.
The second years increase of
$5.76 would consist of a "a
wage rise; SIPS cost of two
additional days of sick leave,
and a 5l-cent benefit for sub
stitute employees.
The agreement came as a
personal victory for Mayor
Wagner, who stepped in as an
impartial mediator when it be-
came evident that the two
sides were hopelessly dead
locked. There followed a long
series Of mediation sessions.
Asked If the terms Of the
agreement would put some
newspapers out of business, Mr..
Bradford replied:
I'VE would not have agreed
to the settlement If we did not
think all would survive"
The New York newspaper in
dustry alone, in the last 81
days, has lost we'll over 500
million In advertising revenue,
circulation revenue, wages and
fringe benefits, and loss to
newsdealers and other sales
outlets.
Other Businesses Hit
The above figure applies only
to the industry. Other bust
nesses stores. theaters, restau-
rants and the like have noted
reduced revenues. How much of
; this was due TO their inability
to advertise could not be cal
, culated.
In Cleveland, where the two
, newspapers have been shut
down by strikes for 90 days.