Fairness for Journalists Working for Quality News
Target:
MediaNews Management at Bay Area News Group-East Bay (BANG-EB)
Sponsored by:
We the undersigned support the newsroom employees at the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and the other newspapers and Web sites of the Bay Area News Group-East Bay. They voted on June 13 in a federally-supervised secret ballot election to form their own unit of The Newspaper Guild. That decision should be respected.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted in the recent layoffs on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted in the recent layoffs on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
We the undersigned support the newsroom employees at the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and the other newspapers and Web sites of the Bay Area News Group-East Bay. They voted on June 13 in a federally-supervised secret ballot election to form their own unit of The Newspaper Guild. That decision should be respected.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted in the recent layoffs on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted in the recent layoffs on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
We the undersigned support the newsroom employees at the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and the other newspapers and Web sites of the Bay Area News Group-East Bay. They voted on June 13 in a federally-supervised secret ballot election to form their own unit of The Newspaper Guild. That decision should be respected.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted for layoff on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
These workers' efforts to secure fair terms in their first contract can only help promote quality jobs and quality journalism for our communities.
We are alarmed by management's rush to cut jobs. In particular, we are concerned that some of the newsroom's most talented journalists believe they were targeted for layoff on account of their union activities. We urge the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the facts and ensure that justice is done.
We also urge management of BANG-EB to cease retaliatory dismissals and
other anti-union practices. We demand immediate reinstatement of anyone
laid off because of union activities. If NLRB investigators determine the
Guild's unfair labor practice charge have merit, we call on management to
avoid long appeals and other delay tactics.
It's in everyone's interest for all parties to come to the bargaining table in good faith and negotiate a fair contract quickly. We support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism, and urge ownership to live up to the highest standards of corporate behavior.
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We signed the "Fairness for Journalists Working for Quality News" petition!
# 220:
9:46 pm PDT, Aug 5,
Terry Poplawski, California
# 219:
9:16 pm PDT, Aug 4,
Mailie La Zarr, California
# 218:
6:21 pm PDT, Aug 3,
Darryl Sclater, Washington
People who care about their fellow employees and courageously stand by them make better workers, not worse. The kind of integrity and conviction shown by these folks is of immense value in any business, but especially so in journalism, where your word and your values are your only permanent calling cards. By underhandedly targeting union activists for layoff, Singleton and his managers have simultaneously stripped their publications of proven, principled employees and sullied their own reputation for good ethical practice.
People who care about their fellow employees and courageously stand by them make better workers, not worse. The kind of integrity and conviction shown by these folks is of immense value in any business, but especially so in journalism, where your word and your values are your only permanent calling cards. By underhandedly targeting union activists for layoff, Singleton and his managers have simultaneously stripped their publications of proven, principled employees and sullied their own reputation for good ethical practice.
# 217:
4:12 pm PDT, Aug 1,
Lucia Hwang, California
# 216:
2:18 pm PDT, Jul 31,
Tracy Rosenberg, California
# 215:
10:31 am PDT, Jul 30,
Katy Raddatz, California
# 214:
1:40 am PDT, Jul 30,
Mindy Pines, California
Shame on you, EB-Bang. Newspaper unions strengthen professional journalism standards and improve the publications for which their members work. Your retaliatory response to the recent union election is selfishly short-sighted. Quality publications depend upon a professional and respected workforce.
Shame on you, EB-Bang. Newspaper unions strengthen professional journalism standards and improve the publications for which their members work. Your retaliatory response to the recent union election is selfishly short-sighted. Quality publications depend upon a professional and respected workforce.
# 213:
1:13 pm PDT, Jul 28,
Walter Yost, California
As a Sacramento Bee reporter and Newspaper Guild leader I urge everyone who cares about quality journalism to join this fight.
As a Sacramento Bee reporter and Newspaper Guild leader I urge everyone who cares about quality journalism to join this fight.
# 212:
12:50 pm PDT, Jul 28,
Ed Sabol, New Jersey
# 211:
9:25 am PDT, Jul 28,
Malinka Franklin, Maryland
# 210:
11:53 am PDT, Jul 27,
Aron Foster, California
Please help us see this campaign through, sign up for a monthly email update: http://tinyurl.com/6ma85v
Please help us see this campaign through, sign up for a monthly email update: http://tinyurl.com/6ma85v
# 209:
5:26 am PDT, Jul 27,
Dianne Ige, Massachusetts
Newspapers are fighting for their lives - what chance have they got if the quality of the talent pool is unfairly compromised ?
Newspapers are fighting for their lives - what chance have they got if the quality of the talent pool is unfairly compromised ?
# 208:
6:13 pm PDT, Jul 25,
Max Vargas, California
# 207:
12:18 pm PDT, Jul 25,
Hilary Bryan, California
# 206:
12:36 pm PDT, Jul 24,
Emily Nilsson, Oregon
Dismissing employees for standing up for their rights is WRONG...journalists have a right to unionize without retaliation!
Dismissing employees for standing up for their rights is WRONG...journalists have a right to unionize without retaliation!
# 205:
1:21 pm PDT, Jul 23,
Jeffrey Stone, California
It is truly sad when in 2008 Managers/Employers are still stooping to the despicable practices of yesteryear. While I can appreciate the situation that the newspapers are in, I can't believe that lying off your finest and most involved is the best way to move forward and get through these tough times.
It is truly sad when in 2008 Managers/Employers are still stooping to the despicable practices of yesteryear. While I can appreciate the situation that the newspapers are in, I can't believe that lying off your finest and most involved is the best way to move forward and get through these tough times.
# 204:
5:54 pm PDT, Jul 22,
Eric Jungerman, California
# 203:
5:28 pm PDT, Jul 22,
Name not displayed, Washington
# 202:
12:48 pm PDT, Jul 22,
Mac McDonald, California
I wholeheartedly support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism at Bay Area News Group-East Bay publications and Web sites and urge management to cease all anti-union practices and retaliatory dismissals.
I wholeheartedly support the Guild's campaign for quality jobs and quality journalism at Bay Area News Group-East Bay publications and Web sites and urge management to cease all anti-union practices and retaliatory dismissals.
# 201:
12:24 pm PDT, Jul 22,
Laura Wegner, California
Please help us save quality reporting and access to talented writers and knowledge.
Please help us save quality reporting and access to talented writers and knowledge.
# 200:
10:38 am PDT, Jul 22,
Beth McCoy, California
# 199:
10:26 am PDT, Jul 22,
Carrie Sturrock, California
Some of these layoffs were clearly retaliatory and we need to support everyone in the guild unit as they deal with management's hurtful, self-destructive actions.
Some of these layoffs were clearly retaliatory and we need to support everyone in the guild unit as they deal with management's hurtful, self-destructive actions.
# 198:
10:48 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Brian & Rita Cohen, California
# 197:
9:29 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Jaclyn Hutchins, California
# 196:
8:19 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Jeff Aberbach, California
Before leaving the Times/BANG-East Bay in February, I had the pleasure of working with a number of the talented journalists -- reporters, columnists, photographers, copy editors and managers -- caught up in these recent layoffs. Their departure will be a tremendous loss to the remaining staff and to BANG-EB readers. I suspect MediaNews management has only widened the chasm between pro-union/no-union forces in the newsroom with what appears to be retaliatory firings of those who publicly and bravely supported The Newspaper Guild.
Before leaving the Times/BANG-East Bay in February, I had the pleasure of working with a number of the talented journalists -- reporters, columnists, photographers, copy editors and managers -- caught up in these recent layoffs. Their departure will be a tremendous loss to the remaining staff and to BANG-EB readers. I suspect MediaNews management has only widened the chasm between pro-union/no-union forces in the newsroom with what appears to be retaliatory firings of those who publicly and bravely supported The Newspaper Guild.
# 195:
6:55 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Barbara May, Washington
# 194:
6:06 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Tom Abate, California
Dear Media News Management These are tough times for everyone in our industry and we need leaders where ever we can find them. Sara Steffens and the other folks who organized the slim pro-union vote a few weeks back defined themselves as leaders. Instead of pushing them away and further alienating your staff, I would urge you to recognize that it is such people within the rank and file who help make the strong bonds between the readers and the newspapers. Nobody is looking to featherbed these days. You should not be pulling stunts like this. Please reinstate Sara and the other organizers who have proven that they have the leadership ability that management will need to pull the East Bay papers through the tough times ahead. Tom Abate business reporter, San Francisco Chronicle subscriber, Hayward Daily News
Dear Media News Management These are tough times for everyone in our industry and we need leaders where ever we can find them. Sara Steffens and the other folks who organized the slim pro-union vote a few weeks back defined themselves as leaders. Instead of pushing them away and further alienating your staff, I would urge you to recognize that it is such people within the rank and file who help make the strong bonds between the readers and the newspapers. Nobody is looking to featherbed these days. You should not be pulling stunts like this. Please reinstate Sara and the other organizers who have proven that they have the leadership ability that management will need to pull the East Bay papers through the tough times ahead. Tom Abate business reporter, San Francisco Chronicle subscriber, Hayward Daily News
# 193:
5:34 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Sarah Button, Washington
# 192:
5:26 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Jerry Minkkinen, Illinois
# 191:
2:10 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Anne Dujmovic, Oregon
# 190:
12:52 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Mark Nicklawske, Minnesota
# 189:
12:19 pm PDT, Jul 21,
Barbara Wilcox, California
These layoffs were transparently retaliatory against some of the company's best reporters. I hope BANG will come to its senses and reinstate the laid-off workers without delay.
These layoffs were transparently retaliatory against some of the company's best reporters. I hope BANG will come to its senses and reinstate the laid-off workers without delay.
# 188:
11:29 am PDT, Jul 21,
Sean Givens, California
# 187:
10:12 am PDT, Jul 21,
Janeene Davis, California
# 186:
9:03 am PDT, Jul 21,
Maribeth Donida, California
# 185:
10:12 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Chris O'Connell, California
# 184:
10:00 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Tom FitzGerald, California
They believe they were targeted, and I believe they were targeted. We need to stand by them and demand that they be reinstated.
They believe they were targeted, and I believe they were targeted. We need to stand by them and demand that they be reinstated.
# 183:
4:58 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Kathy Strauss, Washington
Please work to save jobs!
Please work to save jobs!
# 182:
4:40 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Fr. Bill Leininger, California
# 181:
2:11 pm PDT, Jul 20,
Name not displayed, Maine
# 180:
10:15 am PDT, Jul 20,
Lynn Yaney, California
Laying off these talented journalists is outrageous and very transparent.
Laying off these talented journalists is outrageous and very transparent.
# 179:
9:43 am PDT, Jul 20,
Gary Clements, Minnesota
# 178:
8:53 am PDT, Jul 20,
Andrea Labak, Colorado
# 177:
6:42 am PDT, Jul 20,
David Melendy, Washington D.C.
This blatant union busting tactic is appalling. The ruthless MediaNews management will continue to assault organized workers unless fair-minded people band together to publicly spotlight the injustice and bring a change in the political structure of the NLRB that will end its pro-business, anti-labor bias. The federal government has again failed to defend and protect the rights and welfare of its people, effectively endorsing morally corrupt business practices. Hopefully, readers of the Bay Area News Group publications and all citizens will demand better when they become aware of the indecency and corporate self-interest that puts not only the rights of the workers on the job at risk, but also the basic human rights of their families.
This blatant union busting tactic is appalling. The ruthless MediaNews management will continue to assault organized workers unless fair-minded people band together to publicly spotlight the injustice and bring a change in the political structure of the NLRB that will end its pro-business, anti-labor bias. The federal government has again failed to defend and protect the rights and welfare of its people, effectively endorsing morally corrupt business practices. Hopefully, readers of the Bay Area News Group publications and all citizens will demand better when they become aware of the indecency and corporate self-interest that puts not only the rights of the workers on the job at risk, but also the basic human rights of their families.
# 176:
12:02 am PDT, Jul 20,
Benny Evangelista, California
At a time when our industry is searching for solutions that will bring us into a brighter future, we need our best and brightest leaders all working together. Yet management at BANG-EB has chosen to fire newsroom leaders who demonstrated they were willing to step up and work with management to find that future together. Managing employees through fear and intimidation shows poor business sense. Bringing these valuable leaders back and negotiating a fair contract will benefit everyone.
At a time when our industry is searching for solutions that will bring us into a brighter future, we need our best and brightest leaders all working together. Yet management at BANG-EB has chosen to fire newsroom leaders who demonstrated they were willing to step up and work with management to find that future together. Managing employees through fear and intimidation shows poor business sense. Bringing these valuable leaders back and negotiating a fair contract will benefit everyone.
# 175:
9:54 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Tom Black, Washington
# 174:
7:24 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Carolyn Jones, California
# 173:
6:24 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Jim Schaufenbil, New Hampshire
# 172:
6:15 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Richard Hellmann, California
How do you fight unrepentant dumbassery?
How do you fight unrepentant dumbassery?
# 171:
4:57 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Michael-David Sasson, California
# 170:
4:31 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Eric Thurstin, Washington
# 169:
4:09 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Brad Brown, California
# 168:
2:05 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Betty Olson-Jones, California
No democracy can thrive when the very people entrusted with reporting daily events are subjected to intimidation and reprisals. We call on you to respect the rights of journalists that you employ by negotiating a fair contract NOW.
No democracy can thrive when the very people entrusted with reporting daily events are subjected to intimidation and reprisals. We call on you to respect the rights of journalists that you employ by negotiating a fair contract NOW.
# 167:
1:57 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Raymond Alvarez, Colorado
# 166:
12:55 pm PDT, Jul 19,
Veronica Ulloa, California
# 165:
10:38 am PDT, Jul 19,
Name not displayed, California
# 164:
8:27 am PDT, Jul 19,
Minal Gandhi, Missouri
# 163:
4:00 am PDT, Jul 19,
David Hawkins, Canada
Quality journalism is not achieved by a numbers game or petty vengeance. The only entitlement that matters in this matter is the public right to know. And the public doubtless will learn about recriminations meted out by any small minded management reactionaries, and act accordingly. Backlash makes no business sense.
Quality journalism is not achieved by a numbers game or petty vengeance. The only entitlement that matters in this matter is the public right to know. And the public doubtless will learn about recriminations meted out by any small minded management reactionaries, and act accordingly. Backlash makes no business sense.
# 162:
1:37 am PDT, Jul 19,
Erick Wong, California
# 161:
10:50 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Jon Ferguson, California
# 160:
10:44 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Linda Houser Tafur, California
# 159:
10:39 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Seth Long, Washington
# 158:
10:21 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Name not displayed, California
# 157:
9:35 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Kathleen Phillips, Afghanistan
Thank You for standing up, all you journalists! When I was an employee at a Media News owned paper, there were attempts to form unions but in the end I'm afraid fear won. Now that I am unemployed as a result of Media News outsourcing my job to India, I wish I had fought harder. I applaud your courage.
Thank You for standing up, all you journalists! When I was an employee at a Media News owned paper, there were attempts to form unions but in the end I'm afraid fear won. Now that I am unemployed as a result of Media News outsourcing my job to India, I wish I had fought harder. I applaud your courage.
# 156:
5:48 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Robert Hurwitt, California
# 155:
5:42 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Tyche Hendricks, California
# 154:
5:04 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Mona Leroux, Canada
# 153:
5:02 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Nanette Asimov, California
# 152:
4:54 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Name not displayed, California
# 151:
4:26 pm PDT, Jul 18,
Michelle Devera Louie, California
