Teamster delivery drivers at the Chronicle today approved an agreement that will allow the newspaper to cut up to 100 positions, the Chron reports.
Rome Aloise, secretary-treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 853, says members voted 179-10 in favor of a contract that will reduce the total number of drivers to 130.
The agreement keeps union drivers delivering to homes in San Francisco, but allows the paper hire subcontractors outside of the city. Aloise estimated the driver layoffs would result in savings of $5 million to $6 million a year.
Departing Teamsters workers will receive two weeks of severance pay for every year of employment, up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
Publisher Frank Vega says he appreciates the willingness of drivers to make a difficult, yet vital, decision to help the paper.
Members of the newspaper’s largest union — California Media Workers Guild Local 39521 — agreed last month to 150 job cuts.