NLRB Orders Reinstatement of Santa Barbara News-Press Journalists

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Aug 12, 2011, 02:03 ET

Newspaper's Violation of Union Rights Punished

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reporters at the Santa Barbara News-Press have won reinstatement to their jobs and back pay after a National Labor Relations Board decision.

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Journalists in the newsroom at the News-Press began a union organizing campaign in 2006 and voted to join the Graphic Communications Conference (GCC) of the Teamsters Union later that year. The NLRB's decision, announced yesterday, upholds a judge's prior ruling that eight journalists were fired in retaliation for their support of the union.

"The NLRB made a significant decision supporting these dedicated and hardworking journalists who were wrongly fired from the Santa Barbara News-Press," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "They fought back and, with the support of the entire community, championed the right of every worker to seek out union representation free from intimidation, threats and reprisal."

"This decision is great news for the reporters who were unlawfully fired by Publisher Wendy McCaw," said George Tedeschi, President of the GCC and International Vice President. "We will continue to fight along side these journalists until they are made whole."

The Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference represents more than 60,000 journalists, pressmen, bindery workers and other crafts in the newspaper and book publishing industry in the United States. Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters