PUBLISHING

NEW YORK TIMES TO CHARGE FOR SOME WEB ARTICLES

The New York Times will begin charging for online access to Op-Ed and news columnists beginning in September, bucking a trend in which newspapers have offered their content on the Web for free. The annual $49.95 subscription to TimesSelect also comes with an early look at some articles, including those in the real estate and travel sections and the New York Times Magazine, as well as access to the Times’ online archives. Most of the news, features, and multimedia items will remain free, and home-delivery subscribers will automatically get TimesSelect, the company said yesterday. News sites have been struggling to reap revenues online for content they normally sell in print. Most sites are supported by advertising, but have avoided charging fees to read current articles.

– Associated Press

NATIONAL

UNITED AIRLINES, MECHANICS UNION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

CHICAGO – United Airlines and its mechanics union reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract yesterday, moving the carrier a step closer to securing the companywide labor concessions it seeks in order to exit bankruptcy. The tentative deal gives United the $96 million in annual wage and benefit cuts it was seeking from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, union spokesman Terry O’Rourke said late last night. The deal came as a federal bankruptcy court trial on United’s proposal to unilaterally impose lower wages and benefits moved into its final days. Both the mechanics and the machinists union – which has not yet reached a contract settlement – have threatened to strike if United broke the contracts without agreements.

– Associated Press

MCI’S INVESTORS WITHHOLD VOTES FROM CAPELLAS, BOARD

MCI shareholders withheld 28% of their votes from CEO Michael Capellas to protest the board’s decision to accept a takeover bid from Verizon they say isn’t high enough. The tally of votes cast was announced by MCI Secretary Jennifer McGarey at the company’s annual meeting today in Chantilly, Va. Investors holding 78 million to 94 million shares also withheld votes for MCI’s eight other directors. Nine of MCI’s largest shareholders last week said they wouldn’t back the board. They want their opposition to force MCI’s directors to seek better terms than the $8.44 billion offered by Verizon.

– Bloomberg News

IN THE COURTS

FORMER BAYER AG EXEC WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO PRICE-FIXING SCHEME

A former Bayer AG executive, Wolfgang Koch, will plead guilty to colluding in a price-fixing scheme that drove up the cost of rubber chemicals used to make tires, outdoor furniture, and shoes in America during a three-year period. The plea agreement announced yesterday marks the latest development in a long-running antitrust investigation into an international price-rigging ring formed by some of the world’s biggest rubber chemical manufacturers.

– Associated Press