Public Filing Requires MediaNews, Hearst to Assume Union Contracts at Newspapers to be Acquired from

For More Information: Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, jmiller@cwa-union.org and cjohnson@cwa-union.org and Darren Carroll, TNG-CWA, 612-925-3887 

Washington, D.C. -- In a filing with federal regulatory officials, MediaNews Group and Hearst Corp. will be required to assume union contracts at newspapers acquired from McClatchy Co. The requirement was contained in an 8K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

TNG-CWA President Linda Foley said the filing was good news. "This will ensure that quality journalism and quality service to the communities that rely on their local newspapers will not be interrupted," Foley said. "The concerns raised by employees, citizens and leaders about these newspapers apparently were heard and heeded by these newspaper companies," she added.

The contract covering newspaper workers at the San Jose Mercury News expires June 30 but a provision in the contract keeps it in force while negotiations continue. The contract at the Monterey Herald expired last November but also remains in force while the parties continue negotiations. The St. Paul Pioneer Press contract expires in 2007.

Luther Jackson, executive officer of the San Jose Newspaper Guild, said continuation of the contract was very important to maintaining the quality and diversity of local coverage that citizens of San Jose deserve. He noted that the SEC filing also indicates that McClatchy and Hearst will continue to employ all workers who are employed when the sale closes.

Jack Sullivan, secretary-treasurer of the Pioneer Press unit of the Minnesota Newspaper Guild/Typographical Union, said "our contracts ensure the continued strength of our workforce - and our newspaper. We are very glad MediaNews is apparently committed to honoring them. With a strong and talented workforce, the Pioneer Press can keep serving its readers with aggressive, creative journalism and giving its advertisers great customer service."

According to the deal announced by McClatchy last week, MediaNews would buy the San Jose Mercury News and the Contra Costa Times from McClatchy, and Hearst would buy the Monterey Herald and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Hearst would then transfer ownership of the Herald and Pioneer Press to MediaNews in exchange for a stake in MediaNews properties outside the Bay area in California. The deal is dependent on approval by government regulators. TNG-CWA continues to urge scrutiny of this deal by anti-trust regulators.

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