Post Says Unions "Best Thing Since Sliced Bread"

Monday, July 16, 2007

Sorry, that's a fake news headline, like those found in 'The Onion', an independent weekly newspaper that The Post publishes in Washington. Actually, the Post was accused last week of violating federal labor laws. The National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) General Counsel filed a formal complaint against the Post for failing to bargain with the Newspaper Guild over extra duties imposed on newsroom and commercial employees. "This victory is a measure of the egregiousness of Post management's disregard for employee rights," said Rick Ehrmann (right in blue shirt), representative for the Washington Post unit of the Guild, which represents more than 1,200 Post workers. The NLRB charged the Post with failing to negotiate in good faith with the Guild earlier this year over extra work recently demanded of employees, who were told a few months ago to perform work not only for The Post, but also for The Onion, as well as unilaterally implementing a system of unfair payments - and for the most part, non-payments - to Post employees who contribute to Washington Post Radio. The NLRB is seeking back pay, with interest, for employees who were not compensated fairly for their work at The Post. 2005 Washington Post rally, photo by Chris Garlock