Maxwell Lists Cuts Needed at N.Y. Daily News

As the deadline for closing the Daily News narrowed to one week, British publisher Robert Maxwell on Friday spelled out for striking union leaders where jobs could be cut if he buys the struggling tabloid.

The 67-year-old media baron told the unions on the first day of talks Thursday that 800 to 900 jobs would be cut from about 2,300 covered by union contracts. On Friday, each of the nine unions heard the specific cuts that he wanted.

Though the breakdown on job cuts was not made public, drivers union leader Michael Alvino had said he expected his members to be hit hardest. Print workers were also expected to be big losers.

“It’s tough medicine. It’s up to them,” Maxwell told reporters before Friday’s talks got under way.

The atmosphere appeared to be extremely cordial, with Maxwell being extolled for installing each union in a room of its own at the offices of his publishing company, Macmillan Inc. The unions were even given secretarial help and a nameplate on the door.

“They’ve made as comfortable an environment as they can,” said Richard Weiss of the Allied Printing Trades Council, the unions’ umbrella organization.

The unions appeared to find Maxwell’s style of negotiating more to their liking after months of acrimonious debate with the Chicago-based Tribune Co., owner of the News. News officials have sought contracts that would give management the right to set staff sizes.