The only U.S. newspaper union "with any power to make or break a strike" has been "enfeebled" by trends hurting the newspaper industry, Fitz & Jen reported Tuesday.

The Teamsters Local 259, the delivery union for the Boston Globe, have endorsed a new two-year labour agreement by a vote of 115 to 25 in which the union agrees to a 5 percent wage cut and the removal of 10 holidays.

In addition, workers will now have to be on the job for longer periods in order to earn vacation time, and the newspaper is also free to hire more new employees at a lower-wage tier, Fitz & Jen reported in their Editor & Publisher blog.

The Globe will close its production plant in Bilerica, Massachusetts next year, after which production will be moved to the newspaper's main plant in Boston. The Globe is part of the New York Times Co.'s New England Media Group, which has watched revenue decline recently.

"The Globe appreciates Local 259's leadership role in helping to make our operation more efficient in this tough economic climate," Greg Thornton, the paper's senior vice president, said in a statement, according to Fitz & Jen.