The unions said they would ask the National Labor Relations Board's regional office to seek an injunction to return to their jobs all striking workers who want to do so.
"The unions have made an effort to stop the pain and suffering in this community, and the employer again has told us in this community to go to hell," said Al Derey, president of the Metropolitan Council of Newspaper Unions.
"In the face of this rejection, we are off to the National Labor Relations Board and the federal court."
Derey said the request for the injunction could be filed as early as today.
Newspaper officials did not immediately return calls seeking comments about the unions' statements.
William Schaub, the Detroit regional director of the National Labor Relations Board, has said he would view it as improper if the newspapers took back only some workers.
Schaub could not immediately be reached for comment yesterday evening.
Disputes will continue regardless of the outcome of the injunction effort. If the strike is ruled an unfair labor practices strike, strikers who are not reinstated after the unconditional offer would be entitled to back pay and benefits. A decision on the unfair labor practices question and subsequent appeals are expected to take months or years.
Officials with the newspapers said they do not intend to displace the 1,300 replacement workers hired during the strike.
Spokesmen for Detroit Newspapers Inc., The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press said in their acceptance of the unions' offer that they hoped their plan for bringing back workers as openings occur would help bring peace in the dispute.
"We believe this is a positive step, designed not only to help former strikers but to begin to repair divisions in our community," said Robert Giles, editor and publisher of the News.
Susie Ellwood, a vice president with Detroit Newspapers, outlined a plan under which workers could return when there are openings. Some workers also could qualify for financial help in finding work at other newspapers, she said.
Specifically, the plan says:
n The companies will offer any job openings as they occur within each working unit to former strikers. The former strikers will be placed on the list based on seniority.
n A training fund will be set up for employees whose jobs have been eliminated because of changes in the newspapers' operation. It will be available to employees who do not want to return to work.
n A relocation fund can be established for those who want to pursue jobs at other newspapers.
n The companies will not contest future unemployment claims.
"Our most immediate step is to sit down with our unions and find out how many people want to return to work," said Free Press publisher Heath Meriwether.
Sixty percent were willing to return to work early in the strike.
"We hope that union leaders will join with us in helping grow our business and not work to destroy it," he said.
Some 2,500 employees - including pressmen, truck drivers, reporters and editors - went on strike July 13, 1995, over a variety of issues. About 430 have returned to work.
The newspapers have continued to publish using about 1,300 replacement workers, strikers who returned to work, and managers. The Free Press is owned by Miami-based Knight-Ridder Inc., the News by Arlington, Va.-based Gannett Co. Inc.
Detroit Newspapers runs the papers' business and production operations under joint operating agreement.
The newspapers' acceptance of the offers followed an exchange of letters Tuesday in which union and management officials discussed whether the offers meant the strike was over.
John Jaske, Gannett senior vice president of labor relations, noted in his letter that while the company had received the offers, the unions have continued to say publicly that they would continue "strike activities."
"As I am sure you know, an unconditional offer carries with it the obligation to end the strike," Jaske said. "Please confirm that your unconditional offer includes cessation of strike activities."
Union attorney Sam McKnight responded that the offers to go back to work were unconditional, but that the protests would continue.
"Nothing needs to be clarified," McKnight's letter said. "The unions have declared an end to their 'strike' - i.e. the concerted work stoppage; but the unions have not declared an end to the fight for dignity and justice for our members."
McKnight said the unions were ending their work stoppage, not their labor disputes with the company.
Newspaper officials have also questioned why unions would protest the business they say they want to work for.
"We have never questioned their legal right to continue their boycott and picketing," Ellwood said. "We question how smart it is, because it could affect how many jobs are available."
McKnight said the unions would fight to get workers reinstated quickly.
"We'll be suing them in a variety of ways to deal with these unfair labor practices, which is what this will be," he said. "I promise you that in every way possible - protest, boycott, rallies, advertising, literature - we will not rest until these people are back to work and the company is bargaining in good faith."
AP PHOTO
Newspaper Guild of Detroit President Louis Mleczko speaks at a news conference Wednesday after accepting offers from six striking newspaper unions.