Globe Union, Times Meet After 23 Percent Wage Cut

The largest union of the Boston Globe meets Monday with its owners, the New York Times Co. It's the first time the two sides have met since the union rejected a package of contract concessions and the company responded by cutting union members' pay 23 percent.

The Boston Newspaper Guild says it wants to use the meeting to talk about crafting a new contract. But the paper's owners say that's not the intent of the talks.

Union members gathered Sunday to mark the day the Times implemented their 23 percent pay cut. David Butler, who creates charts and maps for the paper, said a lot is riding on Monday's meeting.

"What I hope happens is that the two sides can sit down and realize we're really not very far apart," he said. "Reasonable people with even a slight bit of creativity can come up with ways to bridge the gap and get to a solution."

Tuesday, the National Labor Relations Board holds a hearing over whether the pay cut is legal.