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D.C. Newspaper Unions Line Up Behind Post Mailers
After a year, still confronting an intransigent management at the bargaining table, CWA's Printing Sector is mobilizing the entire Washington, D.C., Council of Newspaper Unions to win a fair contract for 400 mailers and helpers at the Washington Post.
Sector President Bill Boarman and TNG-CWA President Linda Foley met April 14 in Washington with local leaders and business agents of their own sectors, the Graphic Communications International Union, Operating Engineers and IBEW. They planned a massive demonstration at the Washington Post for May 13, the day of the Post's annual shareholder meeting.
"All of the unions are committed to being there," Boarman said. "They all see the Post's lack of effort at the bargaining table as a war of attrition against them."
The mailers and helpers at the Post have been working without a contract since May 19, 2003.
The Post wants them to work longer hours for less pay, to give up overtime and surrender their pension for a pay raise, Boarman said. Management refuses to bring its utility mailers - mostly African-American and Hispanic workers - up to full journeyman scale.
The bargaining committee for Mailers Local 14201 has met only once with management, on April 1, since conducting informational picketing outside a Post-sponsored technology exhibition at the Washington Convention Center in late March.
"The Post comes in with an unacceptable proposal, and it never changes," Boarman said. "Months later, except for a few cosmetic changes, it's still exactly the same."
"The Post's message is clear," said Hunter Phillips, administrative assistant to Boarman, who heads bargaining. "They treat their nonunion workers with more respect and fairness than their unionized workforce. It's no less than union-busting."
Sector President Bill Boarman and TNG-CWA President Linda Foley met April 14 in Washington with local leaders and business agents of their own sectors, the Graphic Communications International Union, Operating Engineers and IBEW. They planned a massive demonstration at the Washington Post for May 13, the day of the Post's annual shareholder meeting.
"All of the unions are committed to being there," Boarman said. "They all see the Post's lack of effort at the bargaining table as a war of attrition against them."
The mailers and helpers at the Post have been working without a contract since May 19, 2003.
The Post wants them to work longer hours for less pay, to give up overtime and surrender their pension for a pay raise, Boarman said. Management refuses to bring its utility mailers - mostly African-American and Hispanic workers - up to full journeyman scale.
The bargaining committee for Mailers Local 14201 has met only once with management, on April 1, since conducting informational picketing outside a Post-sponsored technology exhibition at the Washington Convention Center in late March.
"The Post comes in with an unacceptable proposal, and it never changes," Boarman said. "Months later, except for a few cosmetic changes, it's still exactly the same."
"The Post's message is clear," said Hunter Phillips, administrative assistant to Boarman, who heads bargaining. "They treat their nonunion workers with more respect and fairness than their unionized workforce. It's no less than union-busting."