A strike authorization vote is among the options under consideration for newsroom employees at the New York Times, the union that represents the Times reporters is saying.
A negotiations update issued Tuesday on the web site of the Newspaper Guild of New York, a Communications Workers of America local, accused Times management of trying to declare an impasse in the 17-month-long talks over a new contract.
"If impasse is declared, the Guild would challenge the move at the National Labor Relations Board. A strike authorization vote, members' only other recourse, is another option," the update said.
A New York Times strike, or even the threat of one, in the middle of the national political conventions, the presidential debates, and the presidential election could cripple the newspaper, already challenged by competition from online newcomers.
The Guild memo was reported earlier by Jim Romenesko.