New Jersey's Largest Newspaper Threatens to Close

Trying to get concessions from production unions

A union official says the owners of the Star-Ledger are trying to "pound" its unions into submission by threatening to close New Jersey's largest newspaper if it can't get major contract concessions.

President Ed Shown of the Council of Star-Ledger Unions was responding Wednesday to a letter the publisher sent to the staff. The letter said the owners would shut the paper down by year's end if production unions don't agree to concessions by Sept. 27.