"And he always says, 'Give us management rights and we'll tell you.' "

They took over the management rights on October 1965.

The program has been plagued with claims of poor management right from its inception.

This secondary market is particularly strong in Queensland where management rights can sell for millions of dollars.

The News has insisted on management rights that would leave staffing, overtime and other key issues to management's discretion.

"Over the course of several years we've acquiesced and relinquished our management rights," he said.

During his legal career, Bleijie specialised in commercial law and management rights.

It sold the properties to banks and investors, retaining the management rights to many of them.

The Tribune Company had made such powers, called management rights, a central issue in more than 13 months of negotiations.

At stake were management rights to the landmark building and several other office buildings.