CEO of Post-Gazette’s parent company ousted as brothers’ feud continues
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The chief executive of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s parent company has been fired.
The move was the latest in a family feud over what the ousted CEO, Allan Block, says are attempts to sell Block Communications Inc., the family-owned business that also owns The Blade in Toledo, Ohio, four television stations and broadband and internet providers.
Allan Block’s removal comes 12 days after the Block family struggles turned into a legal battle as Allan Block filed a lawsuit in Toledo against his twin brother, John R. Block, editor and publisher of the Post-Gazette and Toledo Blade, as well as other family members and trusts associated with the Block Communications, in an attempt to stop any sale.
John R. Block could not be reached for comment Monday.
Allan Block said through a spokesman Monday night that he was fired for “seeking to enforce his contractual rights in an effort to protect the company and employees from a sale of Block Communications.”
A sale of the company could trigger hundreds of job losses in Toledo and Pittsburgh and possibly put an end to the Post-Gazette and the Toledo Blade, Allan Block said.
The board may have breached his employment contract by firing him and he is evaluating next steps, including taking legal action, the statement on behalf of Allan Block said.
He contended in the statement that he was attempting to stop “self-interested family members from pursuing a fire sale of Block Communications.”
In his suit, Allan Block alleged that voting interest at Block Communications recently transferred to younger members of the Block family, who less allegiance to the media company.
Allan Block accused his twin brother John of orchestrating a coup against him to strip him of his power at the company.
Karen Block Johnese was elected to succeed Allan Block as the chairman of the privately held company. In a Monday statement, she thanked Allan Block for his 30 years of service to the company. Allan Block will continue to be a Block Communications shareholder and director.
Block Johnese did not directly address accusations that the company is looking to sell, but said that Block Communications has “an exciting future,” in a statement.
“We remain committed to serving our customers and business partners and supporting our employees and communities as we navigate the rapidly evolving media industries,” Block Johnese said.
The firing comes amid a lengthy labor dispute and ongoing turmoil between the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and its unions, including the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents editorial department employees including reporters and photographers. The guild is part of the Communications Workers of America, which represents other unions at the paper.
Journalists and production workers have been on strike since October 2022, citing high health care costs and lack of staff raises for well over a decade. Some of the Post-Gazette’s journalists have gone back to work while the strike is ongoing.
Zack Tanner, president of the Newspaper Guild, said this isn’t the first time the guild has witnessed infighting among ownership.
“They’ve had a lot of family drama over the years but that hasn’t and doesn’t change our fight,” Tanner said on Tuesday.
The National Labor Relations Board authorized a request last month to seek a temporary court injunction against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for allegedly violating labor rights.