News Updates
NLRB Orders Reinstatement Of Santa Barbara News-Press Journalists
August 12, 2011(WASHINGTON) – Reporters at the Santa Barbara News-Press have won reinstatement to their jobs and back pay after a National Labor Relations Board decision.
Journalists in the newsroom at the News-Press began a union organizing campaign in 2006 and voted to join the Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) of the Teamsters Union later that year. The NLRB’s decision, announced yesterday, upholds a judge’s prior ruling that eight journalists were fired in retaliation for their support of the union.
“The NLRB made a significant decision supporting these dedicated and hardworking journalists who were wrongly fired from the Santa Barbara News-Press,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “They fought back and, with the support of the entire community, championed the right of every worker to seek out union representation free from intimidation, threats and reprisal.”
“This decision is great news for the reporters who were unlawfully fired by Publisher Wendy McCaw,” said George Tedeschi, President of the GCC and International Vice President. “We will continue to fight along side these journalists until they are made whole.”
The Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference represents more than 60,000 journalists, pressmen, bindery workers and other crafts in the newspaper and book publishing industry in the United States. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.
Maryland Printing Plant Workers Vote Yes For Teamsters
May 19, 2011(WASHINGTON) – A majority of bindery workers, drivers and quality assurance workers at Craftsman Press, a printing facility in Cheverly, Md., voted to become Teamsters on Saturday as well as voting in a two-year contract. The new unit of 102 members joins the 32 other employees at Craftsman Press who are already members of the Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) of the Teamsters.
“The bindery department plus the drivers and quality assurance employees reached out to us because they wanted to be covered by a similar, strong Teamster contract like their friends in other departments,” said Ed Williams, President of GCC Local 285-M. “We have represented the 32 pre-press and pressmen employees at Craftsman for more than 30 years.”
Craftsman is a direct-mail, Heatset Web offset printing facility which produces pieces for regional and national projects.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm here for having a solid contract in place,” said Williams.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hard-working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Go to www.teamster.org for more information.
Vertis Employees Vote For Teamsters
November 19, 2010(WASHINGTON) – A majority of the 400 employees working at a Vertis Communications’ print and mail production facility in Chalfont, Pa., has voted to become members of the Teamsters Union.
“Vertis employees contacted us about organizing their workplace because they wanted representation by a union and rights on the job,” said George Tedeschi, President of the Graphic Communications Conference of the Teamsters and International Vice President. “We’ve been representing employees of newspapers, printers and mailing service firms for the past 114 years, so we have a lot of knowledge about the industry.”
Vertis is a marketing communications company based in Baltimore with facilities in 18 other states. Many of the Vertis employees at the Chalfont facility have been with the company for as long as 15 years, yet management has not taken seniority into account when considering hiring and promotions.
“Seniority hasn’t mattered in our place,” said Larry O’Toole, a 15-year employee with Vertis in Chalfont. “But, now, being Teamsters, we will have someone standing up for us. It’s about time we were Teamster members.”
The Graphic Communications Conference represents more than 70,000 members who print, produce and design publications across the country. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
At Flagging Tribune, Tales of a Bankrupt Culture
October 7, 2010In January 2008, soon after the venerable Tribune Company was sold for $8.2 billion, Randy Michaels, a new top executive, ran into several other senior colleagues at the InterContinental Hotel next to the Tribune Tower in Chicago.
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