Teamsters Fight To Defend Pensions At Minneapolis Star-Tribune

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/11242

By Doug Cunningham

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune is trying to use bankruptcy to throw out union contracts and withdraw from the Teamsters Central States pension fund. Teamsters Local 638 Business Agent Bob Moore says the union has cooperated by giving up millions of dollars in concessions, but draws the line at pensions.

: "That's the issue that we hope to succeed on and we'd like everybody to maintain their pension benefits."

The Star-Tribune is filing an 1113 motion in bankruptcy court in New York City asking the judge to allow the company to throw out its union contracts. The Teamsters have authorized a strike if necessary but stress that the goal is to keep the newspaper in business, the workers employed and their pensions safe.