Members of the Manchester Newspaper Guild will hold a brief, informational picket this evening (Thursday, Sept. 22) at 6 p.m., prior to [[wysiwyg_imageupload:14:]]a Coupon Workshop being sponsored by The Union Leader at the Nackey Loeb School of Communications, 749 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester.

The picket will protest a horrendous contract proposal made by the newspaper to its employees in the Manchester Newspaper Guild, which covers the editorial, advertising, circulation, information technology, new media and custodial departments, as well as Neighborhood News employees. The proposal would slash wages by 22% of 2008 pay scales, allow for an entirely part-time workforce that would receive no benefits, increase the work week by five hours, increase healthcare costs and severely restrict the union local's ability to protect its members.

The company also has given an Oct. 31 deadline for the Guild to accept its proposal, or it threatens an immediate 10% pay cut and the layoff of six union employees.