Providence Journal Labor Dispute
Findings and Recommendations of the Workers Rights Board after the Hearing on the Providence Journal Labor Dispute on Dec. 10, 2003.
Submitted on 12/11/03
by:
Hon. Miguel Luna, Chairman; Providence City Council; Melba Depena, RI
Latino Political Action Committee; Dr. Richard McIntyre, Department of
Economics at the University of Rhode Island; Rev. T. Michael Rock, Central
Congregational Church; Chuck Schwartz, Institute for Labor Studies and
Research; Rev. Richard Taylor, Beneficent Congregational Church
Based on the moving testimony of Providence Journal employees and others we find that:
- The Providence Journal Company and its parent company, the Belo Corporation, were found guilty by a National Labor Relations Board judge of 27 violations of Federal labor law in its dealings with the Providence Newspaper Guild, TNG-CWA Local 31041
- This union of 420 janitors, reporters, ad sales reps, clerks, photographers, editors haven’t had a contract or a regular raise since 1999
- These illegal violations included hiking medical costs, taking away a holiday, cutting vacations, and intimidating workers
- The Company’s ethics policy explicitly prohibits law-breaking such as the 27 violations of Federal Labor Law
- The Providence Journal has given little coverage to this dispute relative to the attention it pays to other labor disputes
- This case is one of many examples demonstrating that the National Labor Relations Board process is too long, outdated, and does not provide an adequate resolution to important labor disputes in a timely fashion
The Board regrets that Providence Journal management did not participate in this community fact-finding process.
We recommend that:
- The Providence Journal Company and its parent company, the Belo Corporation, begin to comply with the decision and the remedies of the National Labor Relations Board decision
- The Providence Journal Company and its parent company, the Belo Corporation drop their appeal of NLRB rulings
- The Providence Journal Company should rejoin the Providence Newspaper Guild at the bargaining table
- The Belo corporation should adhere to and comply with the spirit of its own ethical guidelines
This board intends to meet again to discuss further recommendations.
