NLRB seeks injunction for striking Post-Gazette newsroom workers

The National Labor Relations Board on Friday requested an injunction in federal court on behalf of striking newsroom workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

If the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals fully grants the request, the Post-Gazette would be required to restore the terms of the expired contract with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, according to a statement from the Communications Workers of America labor union.

In that statement, the union said the Post-Gazette violated federal labor law for years and was ordered to reverse course by a judge in 2023, as well as the NLRB in September.

Allison Latcheran, the Post-Gazette’s senior director of marketing, declined comment due to the ongoing litigation.

According to the union, the Post-Gazette in July 2020 claimed it had bargained to an impasse and declared changes to editorial workers’ conditions that included they be a part of a healthcare plan that cost families an additional $13,000 or more per year. It also took away a week of vacation from veteran workers, removed the right to a guaranteed work week, removed workers of their short-term disability plan and eliminated union jurisdiction over their work, according to the union.

Five unions, including the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, went on strike against the Post-Gazette in October 2022 over a variety of what they said were unfair labor practices. The strike continues by four of the unions. It’s believed to be the longest ongoing strike in the country.

The NLRB ruled against the Post-Gazette in September. Striking newsroom workers originally were included in the injunction request for the other unions on strike; but were removed from that case because the National Labor Relations Act only applies to workers who have not yet obtained a NLRB ruling.

The NLRB has since filed for an enforcement order of its ruling in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The injunction request filed Friday, under section 10(e) of the National Labor Relations Act, would provide relief to the strikers more quickly, if granted, the union said.

The injunction hearing covering striking mailers, production, and advertising workers is scheduled to resume Jan. 8 in U.S. District Court.

“Today’s move by the NLRB to seek a rarely used emergency injunction against the Post-Gazette shows once again how righteous the fight of the striking Newspaper Guild workers has been,” said Zack Tanner, an interactive designer on strike and president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh.

“For more than two years now the workers who have been holding the line have been proven correct at several levels. We’re looking forward to winning this injunction, getting our contract back and getting back to doing our award-winning work.”