More than 100 demonstrators rallied Monday against the publisher of Lavender magazine, calling it hypocritical that he demands equal rights for his readers but fights the legal rights of his workers.

Workers at Lavender voted unanimously April 2 for representation by The Newspaper Guild, the first time in the nation that staff of a gay or lesbian publication has chosen to unionize. Since then, organizers say, CEO Stephen Rocheford has stepped up harassment of workers, removed work from the bargaining unit, unilaterally changed working conditions, and attempted to reorganize the staff in a way that would exclude half of them from union protection while vastly expanding the number of 'managers.'

Since March, the five female members of the staff have quit, including editor Rudy Renaud. Another staff member, Ricardo Medeiroz, announced his resignation at the rally.

Female staff members say Rocheford paid them significantly less than male counterparts and subjected them to episodes of physical intimidation and other blatant hostility.

'It's been really hard, really difficult,' said Renaud, who had been editor for two years before resigning June 29. 'We all loved our jobs. But we couldn't stand any more harassment.'

Showing support
The rally, outside of Lavender's offices in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood, was bolstered by scores of noisy delegates attending the national convention of the Communication Workers of America in downtown Minneapolis. One busload of delegates was joined by others who walked more than a mile to the rally.

Linda Foley, national president of The Newspaper Guild and a vice president of CWA, said Rocheford's actions show 'he has no credibility when he purports to speak for a community that knows harassment.'

Other speakers included state Rep. Scott Dibble, DFL chairman Mike Erlandson, municipal candidates in south Minneapolis, and Dawn Rodriguez-Lamar, president of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild. That local is attempting to organize another gay-oriented publication, The Washington Blade. Blade members are scheduled to vote July 20.

Martin Demgen, staff representative for the Minnesota Newspaper Guild Typographical Union, said bargaining over a first contract for Lavender staff is snagged by Rocheford's 'abhorrent treatment' of female staff, his attempts to erode the size of the bargaining unit, and his refusal to create such workplace basics as job descriptions.

Demgen said Rocheford wants the Guild to agree to seven management positions supervising a staff of six to eight other employees. For the Lavender election, the National Labor Relations Board placed 12 staffers under union jurisdiction.

'We're not totally inflexible in recognizing legitimate business needs,' Demgen said, 'but he's trying to deny workers their basic right to belong to a union.'

This article was written for the July 18 issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission. The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org