Michael Amon, one of the leaders of the Graphic Communications Council of The Teamsters, which represents seven units at Newsday -- including editorial -- released an update Tuesday that declared both sides in the contract negotiations had offered new proposals, but without details.

This follows a union rejection in January of a new contract that would have included a 10% salary cut and other benefit reductions. The new release also says an agreement is far off.

The entire update is below:

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Newsday, Local 406 trade proposals

Newsday officials and Local 406 leadership have traded “off the record” proposals for a new contract but are not close to an agreement, union officials told me over the weekend.

The first proposal came from George Tedeschi, president of the Graphic Communications Council and lead negotiator for Local 406, to Newsday publisher Terry Jimenez over dinner on Feb. 25.

Tedeschi, in a meeting with stewards last week, said the proposal was “significantly better” for the union membership than the contract agreement that was rejected 473-10 back in January. He wouldn't reveal specifics about the proposals, except to say it included union givebacks but also requested concessions from management.

But, according to union leadership, Jimenez said the proposal didn't save the company enough money and promised to make a counter-offer. That came on Friday, March 5, after Jimenez and Newsday's negotiating attorney met with Tedeschi and Michael LaSpina, the local's secretary-treasurer, for lunch.

I can't get into the specific details of what Newsday offered. LaSpina, who gave me most of the information for this update, said the new proposal wasn't very different from the contract that the union rejected. Tedeschi believed the proposal cut too deep without significant management concessions, and he flew back to Washington on Saturday.

It appears the two sides remain far apart on issues such as wages, vacation and outsourcing of delivery.

Contract discussions, with the union executive board and Newsday management present, are scheduled to recommence on Thursday. I'll try to keep you updated about what's going on.

As the process moves forward, there will be a lot of information that union officers like myself will not be able to disseminate widely. But feel free to seek any of us out for an update.