New York Times Tech Guild Donates $114,000 Strike Fund to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Strikers

PITTSBURGH – Today, the New York Times Tech Guild (TNG-CWA Local 31003) announced that the union will donate the remainder of its strike fund to striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who are waging the longest ongoing strike in the United States and facing their third holiday season on strike. The donation of approximately $114,000 will bolster the workers’ ability to remain on the picket line as they stand strong in the face of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s unlawful conduct.

“One of the things that this money from the New York Times Tech Guild means is that they still see us; they still stand with us—and that means as much to us as the money,” said Steve Mellon, a striking journalist and member of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA.

“The strike fund we raised was by far in excess of what we needed,” said Vicki Crosson, a member of the New York Times Tech Guild. “From the start, we talked about what we would do if there was any extra money. We knew that this would be the third holiday season that our union siblings in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette would be on strike and that they would really benefit from the remainder of our strike fund. It was an easy decision to stand with them and donate the remaining $114,000.”

Last month, New York Times Tech Guild members waged one of the first tech workers’ strikes in the U.S. with an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike that lasted eight days. Tech Guild members received an outpouring of support for their fight, with hundreds joining their picket lines and thousands of supporters across the country breaking their Wordle and Connections streaks to avoid crossing the digital picket line. Supporters donated generously to raise $250,000 for the Tech Guild’s strike fund. Following their strike, the Guild members reached a tentative agreement with the New York Times for a new union contract.

Union workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have been on strike since October 2022. Prior to the strike, Post-Gazette management dragged contract negotiations out for eight years. During that time, the Post-Gazette repeatedly violated federal labor law by bargaining in bad faith, making unilateral changes to working conditions, refusing to bargain over health care, and imposing terms on the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh-CWA. Members of CWA Locals 14842 and 14827 and the Printing Packaging & Production Workers Union (PPPWU) walked out on strike in October 2022 after management unilaterally cut off their healthcare. Guild members joined their picket lines, protesting additional unfair labor practices.

The Post-Gazette faces severe consequences for breaking federal labor law after the federal labor board filed to enjoin the company for violating the strikers’ rights. The newspaper’s ownership has the power to settle the strike at any time by complying with the law and previous court orders but has instead chosen to continue violating the National Labor Relations Act and arguing that the 70-plus-year-old law violates the Constitution.

PG Publishing and striking workers from CWA Locals 14842 and 14827 and the Printing Packaging & Production Workers Union (PPPWU) will be in Western Pennsylvania U.S. District Court to resume the 10j injunction hearing on January 8th in downtown Pittsburgh.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

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