Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom workers go on strike
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The newsroom workers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette walked off the job Tuesday after voting to authorize an unfair labor practice strike.
On Monday, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh sent a notice to Post-Gazette management to demand that the company end its illegally declared impasse to contract negotiations, lift the unilaterally imposed working conditions and reinstate the terms of the previous collectively bargained contract and return to the contract bargaining table to reach a fair contract with the 101 journalists the guild represents, the release said.
"The workers who produce the Post-Gazette are taking a stand against the hostile and illegal treatment at the hands of John and Allan Block," said Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh President Zack Tanner. "We, the workers, are standing together today, ready to fight to win back our contract and work toward signing a new collective bargaining agreement that preserves the Post-Gazette for the Pittsburgh region."
The Post-Gazette said it will continue to publish despite a strike.
"These journalists are just trying to do their jobs in service of the people of Pittsburgh," said NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss. "It's despicable for the Blocks to fight their own workers and disrespect their rights to have a union. They need to bargain in good faith now."
The union said it has the support of the staff but reporters KDKA-TV spoke with said the staff is divided and many or most plan to keep on working.
Despite the strike vote, it appears they may have enough workers to put out a paper. The job action apparently does not have the full support of the staff and many plan to keep writing, editing and taking pictures.
"I've been a really big supporter of the union for a lot of years and I think unions are good but when you have most of your membership not dog this I'm not sure why we're doing it," said sports columnist and radio host Paul Zeise.
In an email to the staff, the Post-Gazette said so far 40 staffers have resigned from the union and are continuing to work. Zeise said these are tough times for the newspaper business and a strike could be the death knell.
"Most people feel there's other ways we can go about this but a strike at this point in time given the economy, given the way the newspaper business is, it just doesn't make sense," Zeise said.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette released the following statement:
"The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will continue to serve the Pittsburgh community, our readers and advertisers, despite any work stoppage.
"We currently await the ruling by the National Labor Relations Board regarding the Newspaper Guild's claim of unfair labor practices by the Post-Gazette and are confident that the company will prevail. Over the past three years, Guild employees' top wage scales have increased 8%. For the workers from the production, distribution and advertising unions currently on strike over healthcare, the Post-Gazette has offered several proposals, one of which included a 9% wage increase and enrollment in the company's healthcare plan, which currently covers 2,600 Block Communications employees, including several unions, company executives and staff at the PG. None of these solutions were accepted.
"We welcome our employees back at any time."
