Papers, Union Form Contract, Avert a Strike

BOSTON--Negotiators for the typesetters and the two major Boston newspapers yesterday reached a tentative contract agreement.

The 800 members of the International Typographical Union, who work at The Boston Herald American and The Boston Globe, will vote on the ratification of the agreement October 15.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service yesterday said details of the proposal would not be made public until they are revealed to the union members.

Wages, working conditions and electronic typesetting equipment were the major disputed issues. The typesetters have been working without a contract at both newspapers since the beginning of this year.

Union members had previously authorized their leaders to call a strike, although that threat never materialized.