Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Workers to Strike at Midnight

Pittsburgh, Pa. – In response to unfair labor practices by the management of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, including unilateral changes to their health care plan, Mailers and Typographers (in Advertising Sales and Accounts Receivable) at the newspaper will go on strike at midnight tonight. The workers, members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Locals 14842 and 14827 will be joined by members of Teamsters Local 205/211 and Pressmen’s Union GCC/IBT Local 24M/9N.

The workers, who are responsible for designing, printing, distributing, advertising sales and accounts receivables at the newspaper, have been working without a collective bargaining agreement since March 2017. Despite extensive negotiations, Post-Gazette management has refused to engage in good faith bargaining, and the workers have not had a pay raise in 16 years.

The workers’ health insurance was terminated on October 1 after Block Communications, the owners of the Post-Gazette, refused to pay an additional $19 per employee per week to maintain the existing coverage. The workers currently pay over 8% of their wages toward insurance premiums, amounting to approximately $7300 per year. Out of pocket costs for the high-deductible plan proposed by the Company can cost a family as much as $14,400 or more per year.

“It is outrageous that Block Communications, a billion dollar corporation, refuses to pay a small sum to maintain appropriate health insurance coverage for these hard working employees,” said Ed Mooney, Vice President of Communications Workers of America District 2-13. “They have shown our members nothing but disrespect. Enough is enough. We will stay on strike until the Post-Gazette recognizes our value to the paper and stops violating our rights.”

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