The nearly seven-week strike against the two morning papers involved more than 900 editorial, advertising, circulation, and composing room workers, represented by The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America Local 37082. The dispute, which focused on wages and pension plans, ended with ratified pacts at the Post-Intelligencer on Dec. 28 and Jan. 8 at the Times. The talks were facilitated by Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services chief Richard Barnes, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Communications Workers Pres. Morton Bahr.

In negotiations at the same time were photoengravers represented by GCIU Local 767M. Local 767M Pres. John Bachler said the engravers reached an agreement. Local 767M also represents pressmen and paperhandlers at the papers, which have a joint operating agreement. Those two GCIU units had contracts in place, Bachler said.

While the paperhandlers' contract did not allow them to stay out for the Guild strike, Bachler said about 17 pressmen volunteered to honor the Guild's picket line, despite the fact that Times management housed replacement pressmen in the facility in preparation for the strike. The volunteers received strike benefits from Local 767M, Bachler said.

The Blethen family owns 50.5 percent of the Times, and Knight Ridder owns 49.5 percent. Hearst owns the Post-Intelligencer, which did not hire scabs during the strike.