(Washington, D.C.)—Teamsters are standing strong with their new members at the Santa Barbara News-Press. The formerly non-union newspaper gained national attention in September when a majority of their journalists voted for Teamster representation.
However, executives at the News-Press displayed their anti-union colors by unlawfully terminating a long-time journalist last week in retaliation for her role in union organizing. The journalist, Melinda Burns, was a 21-year employee with the newspaper. Since the employees voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters’ Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) in September, the paper’s executives have sought to overturn the election. Since July, more than two dozen editors and reporters have quit or been fired.
“Our members at the Santa Barbara News-Press deserve respect, dignity and the opportunity to bargain for a contract,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “Since their vote in September, we have considered them full-fledged members of our great union. We will continue to fight for their right to work in an atmosphere that is free from employee harassment and intimidation.”
On Monday, October 30, the GCC-Teamsters filed an unfair labor practice charge against the News-Press. “We want the News-Press to rescind its termination of Melinda Burns,” said George Tedeschi, president of the Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference. “All of our members, whether they be journalists, pressmen, bindery workers or graphic artists, have the power of the Teamsters behind them when it comes to their rights in the workplace.”
The Graphic Communications Conference represents more than 60,000 employees in the printing and publishing industries in the United States as part of the 1.4 million hard working men and women members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
