‘Times’ parley resumes after Thomson steps in

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 9

‘Times’ parley resumes after Thomson steps in

NZPA-Reuter London “The Times” of London may be back on sale soon after a seven-month break caused by a dispute,over the introduction ot new technology. Talks between the management and unions, the first for two months, would be held in the next few days, the management said at the week-end. “The Times,” Britain’s oldest national daily newspaper, ceased publication on November 30 along with its sister publication the “Sunday Times” and three supplements. The shut-down is estimated to have cost £2OM (S43M). The breakthrough came on Friday with a surprise joint statement from the management and the National Graphical Association, the main print union. Times Newspapers agreed

to resume’publication before' getting agreement with the | N.G.A. that journalists and! advertising staff could also operate a new computenbased composing system. Meanwhile, separate talks will begin with all unions on other issues, such as management demands for lower manning levels and guarantees that in future production will not be disrupted. Progress in these negotiations would govern the reappearance of “The Times,” first published in 1785, but it could be back on the streets in about six weeks, management sources said. Use of the computer has still got to be resolved, but print union leaders and management agreed also to begin talks on the issue straight away and stated a “satisfactory conclusion” must be reached within 12 months. As the talks progress other unions, including the

[clerical staff and Journalists, [will be brought into the nt" gotiations on the computer. The breakthrough on *et< ting up fresh talks to resolve the dispute followed the personal intervention of Lord Thomson, the newspaper’s Canadian proprietor He held four hours of talks on Friday with Joe Wade, general secretary of the N.G.A. and Les Dixon, the N.G.A. president. They said in their statement: “We hope this major understanding on the issue of new technology will lead to the early republication of the newspapers and will create the right constructive atmosphere for negotiations on all other outstanding issues.” Last week the NGA„ stating that it could not see I any future in “The Times,” said it would help its 600 workers on the newspaper find new jobs.