Labor Board Files for Injunction Against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 3rd Circuit Court

PITTSBURGH, Penn. -- The National Labor Relations Board filed to enjoin the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over its treatment of its editorial workers on Friday in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

If fully granted, the injunction would require the PG to restore the terms of the expired contract with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh (TNG-CWA Local 38061) — including their collectively bargained health care.

“Over the past two years I’ve struggled to pay bills. I’ve faced scabs driving their cars, and trucks, and vans into me, and an amount of police harassment and violations of my rights as a striking worker that would be laughable if it weren’t so serious,” said Natalie Duleba, a page designer and editor on strike and Secretary of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh. “All this because the Post-Gazette is more invested in breaking labor laws than treating us with dignity. The fact that it’s come to this is a mark against the PG’s name, and a vindication of our efforts to hold owners and executives accountable.

“Nobody should have to wait this long, but I’m glad we’re finally here, nearing victory, and a return to the work I’m proud to do for my community.”

The Post-Gazette has repeatedly violated federal labor law for years and was already ordered to reverse course by an administrative law judge in January 2023 as well as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which expanded on that earlier ruling, in September 2024.

In July 2020, the PG claimed it had bargained to an impasse with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, and declared unilateral changes to editorial workers’ conditions that included forcing them onto a health care plan that cost families as much as an additional $13,000 or more per year. The imposed terms also took away a week of vacation from the most veteran workers, removed the bargained right to a guaranteed work week, stripped workers of their short-term disability plan, and eliminated union jurisdiction over their work.

In October 2022, the PG unilaterally cut off the health care of its production, advertising and distribution workers by refusing to pay a $19-per-week increase in health care costs in an attempt to force them onto a company plan with no year-to-year cost controls. The workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 14842 and 14827, and PPPWU, went on strike on Oct. 6, 2022. Members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh joined 12 days later, demanding restoration of their 2014-17 contract and dignified health care.

“The Blocks, their law firm and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette management continues to break federal law,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “A 10(e) filing is exceptionally rare and I’m glad to see the National Labor Relation Board continue to execute its authority to enforce the Act, protect workers and prosecute companies that break the law. The entire NewsGuild will continue standing with our strikers and holding employers to account.”

The PG is already in U.S. District Court facing penalties for its treatment of mailers, production, and advertising workers. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette faces steep penalties for breaking federal labor law after the National Labor Relations Board filed to enjoin the company for its unlawful behavior during and leading to the country’s longest-running strike.

Editorial workers were initially included in that filing. But because the specific part of the National Labor Relations Act (10j) only applies to workers who have not yet obtained an NLRB ruling, they were removed from that case. 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 Act — would bring relief to strikers more quickly, however, if granted.

“As we have pointed out over and over again, the Post-Gazette’s leadership has the ability to settle the strike at any time, simply by complying with the law,” said Mike Davis, Vice President of CWA District 2-13. “It is shameful that they are forcing striking workers and their families to make sacrifices for a third holiday season. It is time for the Post-Gazette’s leadership to get the message and change course so our members can get back to work.”

The injunction hearing covering striking mailers, production, and advertising workers resumes Jan. 8 in Western Pennsylvania U.S. District Court.

Failure to follow a federal judge’s ruling can lead to a contempt ruling, exponentially multiplying fines, and the risk of owners and executives being detained. Late last year, executives of Haven Salon & Spa in Wisconsin were taken into custody by U.S. marshals for flouting a district court’s order over the spa’s violations of workers’ rights.

“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 Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president. “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.”

This week Post-Gazette strikers received a $114,000 donation from the New York Times Tech Guild, who had leftover money in the fund they used in the weeklong strike that led to the settlement of their first contract.

Supporters can donate to support the strikers by visiting unionprogress.com/donate.

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