Boston Globe largest union says owner threatens shutdown as deadline for concessions looms

Boston Globe’s Guild says owner threatens shutdown

BOSTON — The Boston Globe’s largest union says the newspaper’s owner responded to its proposal of $10 million in concessions with a copy of a notice threatening to shut down the newspaper in 60 days.

The Boston Newspaper Guild says Globe management told the union it’s prepared to file the notice if negotiations are not successful by a midnight Sunday deadline. The union calls the move a “bullying” tactic by the newspaper’s owner, the New York Times Co.

Earlier Sunday, the Guild said it had proposed more than the $10 million in cuts to keep the newspaper running.

The Times Co. last month threatened to close the Globe unless its unions agreed to $20 million in cuts, including half from the Newspaper Guild.

The Times co. hasn’t commented on the Guild’s proposal.