Unity Means Bargaining Power for Mailers at Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Unity means bargaining power at Pittsburgh Post Gazette. From left are members of CWA Local 14842’s bargaining team: Al Levine and Gene Malerbo, back row, and Vice President Harry McElroy and President Steve Stasenko, Jr.

Members of Mailers Local 22/CWA Local 14842 at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette were able to fend off draconian cuts thanks to joint bargaining with nine other unions at the newspaper, including TNG-CWA Local 38061 and ITU Local 7/CWA Local 14827.

Taking nine months to bargain, their three-year contract holds the line against large pay cuts, threatened layoffs and major cuts to retirees' health care. The unions, representing over 750 workers at the Gazette, formed a "Unity Council" years ago that local leaders say made the difference at the bargaining table, along with strong support from CWA's Print Sector and the Guild.

The other unions include the Teamsters, Platemakers, Paperhandlers, Pressmen, SEIU, Machinists, and Operating Engineers.