Newspapers: How Not to Negotiate in New York

For weeks the publishers and the Newspaper Guild had predicted that New York's newly merged World Journal Tribune would be struck before it had a chance to go into operation. Absurd as it seemed, that is exactly what happened last week. Negotiation of key issues—number of employees to be retained, severance pay and seniority—came to a standstill. "Neither side has made any definite offer," said World Journal Tribune President Matt Meyer. "We are still too far apart." The publishers characterized union demands as "extortionate"; the unions called the publishers' offer "peanuts."

While extending their sympathies to the struck papers in editorials,...