• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, December 23, 2024

The ugly two-year strike at the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette has taken another new turn. The National Labor Relations Board has asked the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  to enjoin the Post-Gazette over its treatment of its editorial workers

If granted, the Post-Gazette would have to restore the terms of the expired contract with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh (TNG-CWA Local 38061), the union says. The main issue appears to be healthcare.

The company, stating that it had reached an impasse with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, forced editorial workers onto a health care plan that cost families up to $13,000 per year, the union charges. 

In addition, the publisher eliminated the short-term disability plan and took a week of vacation away from veteran workers, it adds. 

In October 2022, the PG cut off the health care of its production, advertising and distribution workers by declining to pay a $19-per-week increase in health care costs. The workers went on strike on October 6. 

That walkout started with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 14842 and 14827, and PPPWU. The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh joined 12 days later.

This should be settled--it reflects badly on the whole industry. 

The controlling Block family has had internal disputes over possible sale of Block communications, but still seems to take a hard line during the strike. 

“The Blocks, their law firm and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette management continues to break federal law,” says Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild. “A 10(e) filing is exceptionally rare and I’m glad to see the National Labor Relation Board continue to execute its authority to enforce the Act, protect workers and prosecute companies that break the law.”

The sheer duration of the strike has been hard on employees. 

“Over the past two years I’ve struggled to pay bills. I’ve faced scabs driving their cars, and trucks, and vans into me, and an amount of police harassment and violations of my rights as a striking worker that would be laughable if it weren’t so serious,” says Natalie Duleba, a page designer and editor on strike and Secretary of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh. 

A hearing will be held on January 8 in the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania.