Philly Guild Files NLRB Complaint Over Lack of Bargaining

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_di...

Published: August 13, 2009 11:00 AM ET

NEW YORK The Philadelphia Newspaper Guild, which recently rejected a request from the city's two major newspapers to extend their contract for 30 days, has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the newspapers of bad faith bargaining.

"We are concerned that Philadelphia Newspapers delay of bargaining and its failure to disclose its bargaining proposals are tactics designed to leave the Guild membership with no leverage in the event it submits a plan that includes contract concessions and that plan is accepted," a memo from Philadelphia Newspaper Guild leaders to its members Wednesday stated.

The guild is the only one of the 15 unions at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News that has not agreed to extend its current contract for 30 days beyond the Aug. 31 expiration date, according to Publisher Brian Tierney.

The newspapers' owner, Philadelphia Media Holdings, is in the midst of a bankruptcy that was filed in February. It is planning to submit a reorganization plan next week and had requested the unions extend contracts so that negotiations could be put off until after the reorganization is completed.

"We have 4,200 full-time and part-time employees, the guild represents about 510 people," Tierney told E&P. "We have agreements from all of the other unions to extend. Like a lot of publishers, I don't always understand the guild. But they're family and we love them and I am sure it will all work out."

FULL story at link.