For instance, the papers would try to bargain flrst wlth the union they considered the weakest, to set a precedent for subsequent contracts. Fito: to that time, each union would bargain its own contract- a üme-consuming process riddled with problems. The Metropolitan Council of Newspaper Unions was formed in 1971 in an effort to improve the bargainlng process on all sides.

The striking unions involved are the Teamsters Locáis 3, Newspaper Guild of Detroit Local 22, Graphic Communications International Union Locáis 13N and 289N, the DetroitTypographical Union Local 18, and Engravers Local 289M. The Council, an informal labor alliance, is the unions' designatedbargainingagentAmongits members are circulatlon managers, customer service workers, truck drivers, mailroom employees, reporters, photographers, copy editors, graphic arüsts, assistant editors, maintenance workers, and press operators. The striklng workers are members of the six unions whlch make up the Metropolitan Council of Newspaper Unions. 2 1, talks facilitated by state and federal mediators have resumed, butas AGENDA goes to press there has been no measurable progresa. At the time thatworkers walked out, talks between the unlons and the two newspapers had broken down followlng an impasse on vlrtually every area of contract negotlations.

This has been the case since July 13, when the 2,500 unlon workers at the Detroit Free Press, The DetroitNews and the company thatoversees the business operations of both papers, the Detroit Newspapers Agency (DNA), went on strike. ■ arnlng: Don't put your I M coins In that Detroit News ■ or Detroit Free Press box! '%ïj% iLj The paper has been pro■ duced by scab labor.

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