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Workers' Rights Board Hears Testimony on Boston Globe Demands
A February hearing by the Massachusetts Workers' Rights Board provided a public forum that exposed the Boston Globe's treatment of 1,200 workers at the newspaper.
Nearly 300 members of TNG-CWA Local 31245 and supporters from other unions marched outside Globe headquarters before the hearing, calling on the newspaper to bargain fairly and pay its fair share of health care costs.
At the hearing, a crowd of 200 and the WRB panel heard from nearly a dozen witnesses, who spoke to the Globe's stonewalling tactics and its attempts to intimidate union members.
Local 31245 President Steve Richards recounted the three-plus years of bargaining that have led only to demands by the Globe to cut jobs, subcontract all non-editorial work and ignore seniority in the event of a layoff.
"The Globe has refused to contribute its fair share to the health care fund, holding workers' health care hostage unless we give in to these demands," Richards said, explaining that the result is that workers have seen their health care costs more than double over the past three years.
He said Globe management refuses to consider improvements the Guild has proposed, especially for the part-time workers who comprise a third of the bargaining unit.
TNG-CWA Representative Jim Schaufenbil told the board that the Globe and parent New York Times Co. are among the most profitable newspaper enterprises in the country, with the Times Co. earning $300 million in net profits last year.
Other speakers included Debra Cash, of the Boston Freelancers Association, who spoke of the problems her members face at the Globe; Jennifer Doe, Jobs with Justice, who highlighted the Globe's hypocrisy and its many editorials supporting workers' rights, quality health care coverage and fair working conditions - at other employers; and Bonnie Hanisch, a health benefits specialist.
Union members at the Globe testified about low morale and how Globe management constantly worked to intimidate workers and diminish the union. Others spoke about the impact of high health care costs on themselves and their families.
Richards said the local hoped to present the WRB findings at a rally with members of the Boston City Council on March 4, Health Care Action Day.
WRB members at the hearing included Attorney Robert Swartz; Gerald Colby, president of the National Writers Union; Roxan McKinnon, director of the Boston Tenants Coalition; Greeley O'Connor, chair, Boston NOW Economic Justice Committee; and Fausto Da Rocha, director, Brazilian Immigrant Center.
Nearly 300 members of TNG-CWA Local 31245 and supporters from other unions marched outside Globe headquarters before the hearing, calling on the newspaper to bargain fairly and pay its fair share of health care costs.
At the hearing, a crowd of 200 and the WRB panel heard from nearly a dozen witnesses, who spoke to the Globe's stonewalling tactics and its attempts to intimidate union members.
Local 31245 President Steve Richards recounted the three-plus years of bargaining that have led only to demands by the Globe to cut jobs, subcontract all non-editorial work and ignore seniority in the event of a layoff.
"The Globe has refused to contribute its fair share to the health care fund, holding workers' health care hostage unless we give in to these demands," Richards said, explaining that the result is that workers have seen their health care costs more than double over the past three years.
He said Globe management refuses to consider improvements the Guild has proposed, especially for the part-time workers who comprise a third of the bargaining unit.
TNG-CWA Representative Jim Schaufenbil told the board that the Globe and parent New York Times Co. are among the most profitable newspaper enterprises in the country, with the Times Co. earning $300 million in net profits last year.
Other speakers included Debra Cash, of the Boston Freelancers Association, who spoke of the problems her members face at the Globe; Jennifer Doe, Jobs with Justice, who highlighted the Globe's hypocrisy and its many editorials supporting workers' rights, quality health care coverage and fair working conditions - at other employers; and Bonnie Hanisch, a health benefits specialist.
Union members at the Globe testified about low morale and how Globe management constantly worked to intimidate workers and diminish the union. Others spoke about the impact of high health care costs on themselves and their families.
Richards said the local hoped to present the WRB findings at a rally with members of the Boston City Council on March 4, Health Care Action Day.
WRB members at the hearing included Attorney Robert Swartz; Gerald Colby, president of the National Writers Union; Roxan McKinnon, director of the Boston Tenants Coalition; Greeley O'Connor, chair, Boston NOW Economic Justice Committee; and Fausto Da Rocha, director, Brazilian Immigrant Center.