With a possible strike deadline of midnight on Tuesday, the bargaining committee of Communications Energy and Paperworkers Local 87-M has decided to reject the Globe and Mail's latest contract offer, although union members will still vote on it today.

And even if the members vote it down, a union official says a strike is not a foregone conclusion.

The main stumbling blocks have been wages, which the paper wants to freeze for the first two years of the contract, and changing the pension plan from a defined benefit system to a defined employee-contribution plan, (Brad) Honywill said.

The Globe said in a statement it has adjusted its position and is now offering to allow current employees to stay on a defined benefit system, although with higher contributions.

Also, it is now proposing a five-year contract, instead of its previous proposal for a six-year deal, Honywill said. ...

Honywill said a strike is not a foregone conclusion even if the two sides are unable to come to an agreement. Work to rule is also a possibility, he said.

And what does Globe management have to say?

The company, a division of CTVglobemedia, also said it told workers it would implement the terms of its offer on July 1.

"The Globe and Mail has chosen this step of implementing its final position in negotiations because it is resolved to make the necessary changes to the agreements in order for the Globe and Mail to succeed in the future," the paper said.

It said it expects to continue publishing the paper and updating its websites in the event of a strike or lockout.

Note: Apparently Globe publisher Philip Crawley isn't talking lockout just yet, according to CP.