It was only four people in the production department, but you would have thought it was 400 the way management at the Star Tribune tried to prevent them from forming a union.
The workers voted unanimously on May 17 to join GCIU Local 1-M, which is affiliated with the Teamsters.
But before the workers got to vote, they had to endure a surprising blitz of anti-union behavior, said Mike Blazek, an organizer and business agent for Local 1-M.
"My husband was laughing," one of the workers said. "He thought it was so ironic that the Star Tribune ? one of most liberal newspapers in the country ? was so anti-union." (The worker asked not to be identified in case managers attempt retribution.)
First, the newspaper ? which is owned by California-based McClatchy Co. ? refused to voluntarily grant union recognition by simply adding the workers to an existing bargaining unit. Instead, management insisted on isolating the four workers within their own bargaining unit.
The workers ? who perform electronic pagination and other duties ? then had to endure anti-union propaganda and an escalating series of mandatory closed-door meetings with managers, Blazek said.
A lot of attention
The four workers were called into meetings ? usually one by one ? with the manager who hired them, then with the human resources director, then the director of operations, and finally with the vice president of operations.
"It was quite an experience," the worker said. "They very much tried to divide and conquer."
Managers repeatedly asked for a second chance, the worker said, pledging to make things better now that they knew the level of dissatisfaction. "They reiterated that this had gotten the company's attention all the way to the top."
Fortunately, Blazek said, "these are smart, intelligent people" who understood the company's intimidation tactics. "It took a lot of courage to be out their on their own."
Blazek said he's now waiting to see if the election ignites interest in other workers at the paper.
The Teamsters already represent about 205 workers at the Star Tribune, and the Minnesota Newspaper Guild Typographical Union represents nearly 400 more. But as many as 1,000 eligible Star Tribune workers remain nonunion in advertising, most of circulation and other departments.
"A lot of people were watching this election," Blazek said. "It's only four people, but it's a huge tip of the iceberg that's over there."
Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org
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It was only four people in the production department, but you would have thought it was 400 the way management at the Star Tribune tried to prevent them from forming a union.
The workers voted unanimously on May 17 to join GCIU Local 1-M, which is affiliated with the Teamsters.
But before the workers got to vote, they had to endure a surprising blitz of anti-union behavior, said Mike Blazek, an organizer and business agent for Local 1-M.
“My husband was laughing,” one of the workers said. “He thought it was so ironic that the Star Tribune ? one of most liberal newspapers in the country ? was so anti-union.” (The worker asked not to be identified in case managers attempt retribution.)
First, the newspaper ? which is owned by California-based McClatchy Co. ? refused to voluntarily grant union recognition by simply adding the workers to an existing bargaining unit. Instead, management insisted on isolating the four workers within their own bargaining unit.
The workers ? who perform electronic pagination and other duties ? then had to endure anti-union propaganda and an escalating series of mandatory closed-door meetings with managers, Blazek said.
A lot of attention
The four workers were called into meetings ? usually one by one ? with the manager who hired them, then with the human resources director, then the director of operations, and finally with the vice president of operations.
“It was quite an experience,” the worker said. “They very much tried to divide and conquer.”
Managers repeatedly asked for a second chance, the worker said, pledging to make things better now that they knew the level of dissatisfaction. “They reiterated that this had gotten the company’s attention all the way to the top.”
Fortunately, Blazek said, “these are smart, intelligent people” who understood the company’s intimidation tactics. “It took a lot of courage to be out their on their own.”
Blazek said he’s now waiting to see if the election ignites interest in other workers at the paper.
The Teamsters already represent about 205 workers at the Star Tribune, and the Minnesota Newspaper Guild Typographical Union represents nearly 400 more. But as many as 1,000 eligible Star Tribune workers remain nonunion in advertising, most of circulation and other departments.
“A lot of people were watching this election,” Blazek said. “It’s only four people, but it’s a huge tip of the iceberg that’s over there.”
Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org